Red Friday - Support the Troops

In light of this week's events in Trenton, I have postponed the original post I had scheduled for today and added this one in its place.


Wow. This has been a very emotional week for everyone in Trenton, everyone associated with Air Command, and everyone associated with the Canadian Forces.

The commander of 8 Wing has been charged with 2 counts of first degree murder in the cases of 2 young women (one civilian, one military) and sexually assaulting 2 others - with investiagtions pending of a number of other incidents, and more charges pending. For more info, please see CBC articles

here and here.

Emotions are running very high right now in all these communities. Gen. Walter Natynczyk encouraged members of the Forces, and especially members of Air Command, to continue to wear their uniforms proudly in public, despite incedents like these, reported on a chat forum I belong to:

one CF member got spat on, and one got hasseled at a gas station...Please keep Trenton CF and Military families in your thought and prayers during this tragic time... I myself have had many negative comments directed at me... one was "Fucking Military" ... I almost wanted to reply " Fucking Civies"; but I
won't...

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Out and about yesterday we overhead two older women talking
about "what a shame" and "how horrible" in regards to the base commanders arrest and the allegations against him. There were many comments, quite loudly, beingtalked about in a busy public place. One of the comments was "well you know these people do so many horrible things we never hear about".

Just as I was about to open my mouth, a young girl about 16, maybe 17, spoke up in line.

"What people" she asked. The two older gals shut up and looked
at her. "You mean military? or do you mean someone who is criminally ill ?".

The girl then looked them straight in the face and said,"My Dad has worn the same uniform forever, and he would help anybody who needed it. He and so many others put up with conditions you couldn't handle for a SECOND. Watch what you say, cause it would be like me saying women over 60 should never drive because you know THOSE PEOPLE are dangerous on the road"

Well those two ladies huffed out of line and 3 of us actually clapped for the young gal. She got so red and was blushing, but you could see the tears in her eyes. What a strong young woman, a credit to her family.

Please don't let this incident affect your support of the troops; the folks down in Haiti, in Afghanistan, in the Persian Gulf, helping in various African countries, maintaining security at the Olympics, and all the various other places the CF serves, including in our very own communities.

Support our troops, and their families. Now more than ever, they need it, as they try to heal from this incident.

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Edit to add:  Please also see this article in the Globe and Mail from Major-General (Retired) Lewis MacKenzie.  Well said, sir, well said!