I received this in my email and maybe now is the appropriate time to post this.
Subject: To Our Canadian Soldiers! Thank you!
WOW..this will will bring a tear to your eyes, and make you think of how precious life really is and how lucky we are to have such brave Men and Woman of the Canadian Forces.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU...
A SALUTE TO OUR CANADIAN SOLDIERS
I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long , uneventful flight home.
[. . . .]
No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself. Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed.
The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes." The word came. After waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was finally going to be on my way home.
Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I thought.
The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several Canadian Soldiers returning home from Afghanistan!!!
Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Soldiers as he passed by her.
The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I" was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand.
. . . . I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane.
The cheers and applause continued until the last Soldier stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them. I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank You for a job well done.
I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemenAnd women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.
GOD BLESS!! WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!
This is a ribbon for Our Canadian Soldiers Overseas. Pass it on to Everyone and pray.
Now, read the following and note the treatment of our Canadian military.
Perilous Afghan mission calls for higher honour, opposition charges by Chris wattie, Sept. 19, 03
KABUL -- Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan are upset over plans to issue them with a NATO medal they call the "Boy Scout medal" for their tour of duty in the war-torn Asian nation.
[. . . .]
The "Non-Article 5" medal is for service with NATO missions that are not considered combat or wartime operations, but the soldiers of the Canadian battle group in Kabul say that does not reflect the dangers they face every day in the Afghan capital.
"The NATO medal's what you get for directing traffic in Bosnia," said one Canadian non-commissioned officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We're over here dodging rocket attacks and car bombs. It's bull----."
Anyone who reads knows that Afghanistan is dangerous for our military! Why not honour them -- or would that not be acceptable in our soft power Canada?
Last Thursday, a rocket slammed into the Canadian compound at the main ISAF camp in northern Kabul, narrowly missing tents where Canadian soldiers and civilian workers were sleeping.
Jay Hill, the defence critic for the Canadian Alliance, said the troops deserve better than a NATO medal for their service. "I don't think it's good enough," he said. "We should take the time to design our own medal and ribbon to recognize the size and importance of this (ISAF) commitment, the sacrifices they've made to do this and the risk involved."
Mr. Hill said that because the ISAF commitment is the largest deployment by Canada's cash-strapped military in years, it should be marked by a Canadian decoration. "They shouldn't get a medal that would get lost in the clutter of other decorations.The troops deserve a Canadian-only medal to recognize their service."
Most of the soldiers favour a Canadian medal to recognize their service with ISAF, either a new decoration or a version of the Southwest Asia Service Medal awarded to those who participated in Operation Apollo, the Canadian contribution to the war on terror in 2001-02.
Elsie Wayne, the Conservative defence critic, said the troops in Kabul deserve whatever medal they want for their service, including their own medal. "They've put their lives on the line and some of them may not make it home."
