Red Friday

Bravery wears all kinds of uniforms.

Men in Uniform ...

Two volunteer fire fighters lost their lives in battle today in a community near where I grew up.

I am the daughter of a man that started as a prison guard and became a police officer; he also served as a volunteer fire fighter.  I am the ex of an Airman, the current of a Combat Soldier, and the friend to many in all uniforms.

My heart goes out to the families of these fallen, but also to all the wives and other loved ones who are comforted, yet still feeling guilty that they get to hold their fire fighter in their arms tonight, safe and sound. My heart goes out to those same people, who will wait with the heart a little higher in their throats the next few times the call goes out, until their loved one comes once more safe through the door.

Blessed be

Fallen Soldiers Tribute - My Immortal

Honour the fallen, but also thank God that such people lived.

Pro Patria

April 16, 2009 — Fallen Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan Part 1 Video These are of course not all of Canada's 152 fallen, but I wanted to put a video out with real life photos of our fallen and not DND released pictures as almost all videos use respectfully. This was done after watching a British tribute to their soldiers and I liked how it was done so I wanted to make a Canadian version.

Title: My Immortal

Artist: Evanescence

Album:Fallen (2003)

Label: Wind-up

Writer(s): Ben Moody, Amy Lee

Red Friday - Support the Troops

There is discipline in A Soldier, you can see it when he walks,
There is honor in A Soldier, you hear it when he talks.
There is courage in A Soldier, you can see it in his eyes,
There is loyalty in A Soldier, that he will not compromise.


There is something in A Soldier, that makes him stand apart,
There is strength in A Soldier, that beats from his heart.
A Soldier isn't a title any man can be hired to do,
A Soldier is the soul of that man buried deep inside of you.


A Soldier's job isn't finished after an 8 hour day or a 40 hour week,
A Soldier is always A Soldier even while he sleeps.
A Soldier serves his country first and his life is left behind,
A Soldier has to sacrifice what comes first in a civilian's mind.


If you are civilian - I am saying this to you.....
next time you see A Soldier remember what they do.
A Soldier is the reason our land is 'strong and free',
A Soldier is the one that is brave protecting you and me.


If you are A Soldier - I am saying this to you.....
Thank God for EVERY SOLDIER
Thank God for what YOU do!

posted by "2VPMom" on Condolence page for Sapper Brian C

Wordless Wednesday

A trap ...

Two more fallen.  Both Medics.  News reports say the powers that be are speculating about it being a trap, based on the details released.

The Wolf works mainly ITW, but one of my biggest fears was always him being called out to retrieve a downed/disabled vehicle, and having a remote IED detonated.  This is precisely why most downed/disabled helos, and possibly other assets, are destroyed (via airstrike) rather than retrieved, to prevent the loss of (more) personelle.

While I though the tactic of luring sodliers out specifically with the intent of remote detonating an IED was despicable, I did, kind of, understand it as a tactic.

But to lure MEDICS out and remote detonate an IED?  To specifically target medical personelle?

My heart keeps finding new ways to break in this war.

(note: neither of the recent casualties was my friend the medic ... but still ...)

Needy ...

OK, I have been trying to stay light and fluffy, but damn it that last Canadian casualty was too close to home.

I need to hear from him.  Just his "Allo" to let me know he is OK, mentally, emotionally.  I need him to make contact, for the sake of making contact.

I *know* they were on comms lockdown, and he is very busy right now, for the same reasons that I need to hear from him.  Knowing does not make it any easier to deal with.

I have gotten to used to regular contact from him.  He is too good at maintaining the connection, so when it has been a while, and when shit happens, I am waiting for a message, needing a message ....

Eight and a half weeks since he left Canadian soil.  God only knows how many till he comes home.

I thought I was getting better at this.

Memorial Day

Thank you to all our American Friends as they honour their veterans and fallen, and their families, on Memorial Day.

Tap & Drink.

The Trews - Highway of Heroes

I had to share this.
For those of you who don't know, the bodies of fallen Canadian Soldiers are repatriated to the air base in Trenton, Ontario, and driven to Toronto, Ontario for a final autopsy. Even in death, these fine men and women continue to give, by teaching our medical community about the damage done and possibly better ways to treat the wounded.
The stretch of highway between Trenton and Toronto that the fallen soldiers and their families travel has been legally re-named by our government "The Highway Of Heroes". It is roughly a 2 hours trip by car. By tradition, all other vehicles pull off and the procession passes unhindered, and every single overpass, and the streets of Toronto along the route, are filled with people wearing red, holding flags, honouring the fallen, and offering support to the ones left behind.
Every single time.
An American Vietnam vet I know broke down and cried when I showed him a video clip of one of our boys coming home for the final time; his comment was if they had received a reception anywhere close to that, there might be a whole lot more of them still around now.


May 14, 2010 — "Highway of Heroes", was co-written and co-produced by The Trews and Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) and was inspired by the 2006 death of Captain Nichola Goddard from The Trews' hometown of Antigonish, NS. Canada's Highway of Heroes, is the section of the MacDonald-Cartier freeway named to honour those who have sacrificed all in service of country. The single will be available on iTunes as of May 18th and net proceeds from sales will benefit the Canadian Hero Fund (www.herofund.ca), an organization that assists the families of Canadian military personnel through academic scholarships.
The video was directed by Tim Martin.

Red Friday - Support the Troops

Support the Troops ~ Support the Families

Multās per gentēs et multa per aequora vectus

adveniō hās miserās, frāter, ad īnferiās,

ut tē postrēmō dōnārem mūnere mortis

et mūtam nēquīquam alloquerer cinerem,

quandoquidem fortūna mihī tētē abstulit ipsum.

heu miser indignē frāter adēmpte mihi,

nunc tamen intereā haec, prīscō quae mōre parentum

trādita sunt trīstī mūnere ad īnferiās,

accipe frāternō multum mānantia flētū,

atque in perpetuum, frāter, avē atque valē.

Carried through many nations and over many seas,

I arrive, brother, for these miserable funeral rites,

so that I might finally grant the service of the dead

and speak to your silent ashes pointlessly,

since Fortune has deprived me of you in the flesh.

Ah, poor brother, undeservedly lost to me,

now at least for the meantime, these things

which in the time-honored way of our ancestors

are handed down in mournful service to the rites

receive, utterly sodden by a brother's tears

and for eternity, brother, a tribute and farewell.

~~Gaius Valerius Catullus~~

May Peace and Comfort find your loved ones in the days to come, brave soldier, and may they feel the support flowing to them from all over our country.

This Morning's News:

A Canadian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol southwest of Kandahar city, Afghanistan.


[Edits to prevent this blog coming up on a google search for the soldier's name] 

{The Private}, 24, was born in Richmond Hill, Ont.  He was a member of the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, and was reportedly just days away from finishing his tour of duty.


[He} was killed around 8 p.m. local time Thursday while on patrol near the village of Nakhonay in the Panjwai District, about 15 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city, military officials said.


Until recently, Taliban insurgents walked the streets in the community openly and armed, CBC journalist Darrow MacIntyre reported. But over the past several months, Canadian soldiers — including {The Private} — have established a strong presence in the area, driving most of the Taliban out of the area.

Despite the progress, the area is riddled with roadside bombs, and Canadian soldiers find them on an almost daily basis, MacIntyre said.

"His platoon brothers and friends will remember {him} as a dependable and generous man with a quick wit and great sense of humour, which was exemplified by his awesome moustache," said Col. Simon Hetherington, deputy commander of Task Force Kandahar.

"He was a highly skilled soldier who loved his job and whose positive outlook spread to all those around him."

His death brings to 144 the number of Canadian Forces members who have died in the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/14/afghanistan-soldier-killed.html#ixzz0nu3RQlVa

December 30

4 more Canadian Soldiers, one Canadian Civilian, and 8 American Soldiers lost today ... May peace find you, and may your families find comfort, brave soldiers.

 

Updated December 31

Sgt. George Miok, 28, 

Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, 

 Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, 

Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21,

Ms Michelle Lang

Vigilamus Pro Te

Ave atque vale Sapper Steven Marshall

I was driving home about an hour ago and saw a shooting star go across the sky. Usually I love shooting stars, and see them as hopeful and make a wish. For some reason, this one left me with a sense of dread and foreboding. I am trying to write it off as an overactive imagination.

I checked the news when I get home, and learned that the second casualty of this rotation came today, 24 year old Sapper Steven Marshall, 1PPCLI (the Wolf's former home), was killed earlier today by an IED.

Rest in peace brave soldier, and may your loved ones find comfort in the days to come.

October 26, 2009