11 Nov '07
Sorry for posting so late, I just checked out of the BFC after my annual post Rememberance Day visit.
The Day was cold, rain/snow, windy, so the decision to hold the service indoors at the High School auditorium was a wise one. Unfortunately the attendance far outweighed the capacity.
In the past decade interest and support for the Canadian Forces has grown immensely to the point where even an outdoor service at the Cenotaph is an overcrowded event. Needless to say, that moving indoors left a couple of hundred spectators and at least two Cadet Corps (left behind in the confusion) unable to even get into the 'standing room only' hall. However, that's a problem I'd like to have a hand in curing for the future.
The highlight for myself was a road trip after the Service to the gravesite of Cpl Chris Reid 1PPCLI killed by an IED in Afghanistan on 03AUG06. The road trip was organized by several members of 1VP, some of whom are on course in Gagetown but others, who made the trip from Edmonton just to be with their mate. My invite came when they discovered that I was Chris' PL WO in the 90's when he was a Reservist here in Truro. It was an honour for me to be with these young warriors as they put a 40 pounder of Capt M down range, shared a joke and a tear, posed in a team photo with their teamates headstone, and after parade-square-quality salutues were paid, they left their poppies and empties neatly arranged, (plus an unopened Keith's), on the grave, and departed.
The remainder of the day is kind of hazy, with increasing fog as the day wore on. Armouries; World Famous Mess Chilli and beer, RCLegion; beer, Air Force Club; beer (does anybody else here sense a trend?)
RIP Chris
1 PPCLI
ex 1NSHighrs(N)
Wayne
(BFC=Betty Ford Clinic)
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