more random trivia ...

So often, the darling Coffeypot asks a simple question, that turns into an entire post ... This question was from a while ago.  Here are some explanations of phrases you will see me use here from time to time:


CHIMO

The Canadian Military Engineer's greeting, toast and battlecry is "CHIMO" - pronounced CHEE-mo. This expression is also often used as a closing on correspondence between Engineers. When two Inuit meet on the Arctic tundra, each rubs his chest in a circular motion and says "Chimo" ("Are you friendly"). The answer is a repeat of the gesture and the word "Chimo"! ("Yes, I am friendly"). The current spelling and pronunciation is based on a Caucasian adaptation of the Inuktitut native language of northern Canada. The greeting was introduced during the time of unification to create a common tradition to the CME. The corps was also heavy involved with the development of Canada's North at the time.


PRO PATRIA


Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori is a line from the Roman lyrical poet Horace's Odes (III.2.13). The line can be roughly translated into English as: "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country."  Thusly, Pro Patria is "For (one's) country.


"Pro Patria" is inscribed on the collar insignia of the Royal Canadian Regiment


VIGILAMUS PRO TE


We Stand On Guard For Thee  (From our national anthem, for the non-Canadians in the crowd.)
Motto of the Canadian Forces Land Command (aka "The Army").


Tap and Drink


Tap of the Glass on the table after a toast to honour comrades no longer with us.

Je me souviens

"I will remember", or "I remember", in French.  The motto of the Valcartier/Quebec City/Laval/St Hyacinthe based Royal 22e Régiment, who are also known as "The Van Doos", an english bastardization of "vingt-deux", the french word for 22.

Per Ardua Ad Astra

Through adversity to the stars, the motto of the Canadian Forces Air Command.  Comes, reportedly, from a book called "People of the Mists" written by Sir Henry Rider Haggard:

"To his right were two stately gates of iron fantastically wrought, supported by stone pillars on whose summit stood griffins of black marble embracing coats of arms and banners inscribed with the device 'Per Ardua ad Astra'".

The translation from Latin is open for debate among people with nothing better to do scholars, but for the purposes of the CF it remains " Through adversity to the stars"