There is nothing stagnant in this program, day by day things happen.  Want to stay in the loop?  Start by checking out this page first.

~~**~~ 

 

 

~~**~~

 

Posted February 14th. 2010

There are 82 Canadian National (CN) Police Officers working from coast to coast across Canada and they have donated an incredible Four Hundred custom made t-shirts in support of our troops to Hero To Hero Team Canada. This effort was headed up by Constable Randy Paterson in Sarnia, Ontario. One hundred of the CN Police shirts were included in a shipment of 269 shirts and hats that were recently sent to the crew of HMCS Fredericton, presently deployed in the Gulf of Aden. Below is an article that recently appeared in CN's online National Newsletter and it is followed by an E-mail that Constable Paterson has already received from a sailor aboard HMCS Fredericton.

Read on..... 

1 

CN Spotlight 2010 

February 10 

Reaching out to Canadian troops overseas 

 

“We would give them the shirts off our backs.” 

That’s the morale-boosting message that CN Police Constable Randy Paterson, along with local Sarnia Police, Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services personnel, are sending to Canadian troops deployed overseas. 

Randy is involved with the Hero-to-Hero Team Canada Troop Morale Campaign, which sends local association or duty T-shirts to troops. “I got involved with this initiative because there is a strong brotherhood that exists between police and our troops. We want them to know that we support their mission and that we’re thinking of them. 

After all, they make so many sacrifices for us,” says Randy. “They don’t choose their battles any more than police or firefighters.” 

In late January, the team shipped off 100 CN Railway Police Association (CNRPA) T-shirts to troops serving on the H.M.C.S. Fredericton, which is currently deployed off the coast of Oman. 

“The troops tell us they appreciate a kind gesture from home reminding them that we support their efforts,” says Randy. “They wear the T-shirts during off-hours. It’s our way of staying connected with them.” 

So far, the CNRPA has produced over 400 T-shirts bearing the Association logo and the slogan “Our Association is proud to support Canadian troops overseas.” Later this spring, 

there will be a “pack out” of more shirts from the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton to troops serving in Afghanistan. 

 

 

Here is the letter Constable Paterson received from a crew member of HMCS Fredericton....

 

My name is Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Côté and I'm currently serving aboard HMCS FREDERICTON in the Gulf of Aden area on a counter piracy and counter terrorism mission.  We left Halifax on 25 Oct 2009 and won't be returning home until early May 2010.  I would like to thank you for the T-Shirt of the CNR Police Association that you sent on behalf of the Hero to Hero program, it's very much appreciated.  The reason I picked that T-Shirt over the others we received is because I'm a volunteer Auxiliary Constable with the RCMP program back in Halifax for the last 2 years.

Take care and thanks again.

Paul Cote, PO2 
Snr Pay Writer 
Resource Management Support Clerk | Commis de Soutien à la Gestion des Ressources 
Her Majesty's Canadian Ship FREDERICTON | Navire Canadien de Sa Majesté FREDERICTON 

 

 

 

 

 

~~**~~ 

 

Posted Feb/9/2010

Jake Rademacher, Director/Producer of the documentary movie Brothers At War has teamed up with Dave Murphy of ThankASoldier.net to support HeroToHero.US and Operation Gratitude. Below is Dave Murphy's announcement as posted on his ThankASoldier.net blog.

 

 

 

 

~~**~~

Posted Feb/7-2010

 ~~**~~

 Thankasoldier.net

THE GRATITUDE PROJECT

For the last year i have been watching the amazing things being done in support of our troops by a gentleman named Dave Murphy who lives in Calgary Alberta. Dave is the driving force behind Thankasoldier.net.                                          

In October 2009 when i was in Calgary visiting family, i made a point to meet with Dave so that i could present him with a HeroToHero Director's coin on behalf of our Founder/Director Liz Jackson and also give him the shirt off my back (Sarnia Fire Rescue Services) as a show of respect for all his troop morale efforts.

Dave is the most down to earth person you will ever meet and Hero To Hero wholeheartedly endorses every project that Dave has initiated. We are also thrilled that Dave believes in what we are doing at Hero To Hero to support our men and women in uniform.

Below is the ThankaSoldier.net press release in regards to their newest troop morale project "The Gratitude Project" which is about to take the world by storm. Following the press release is the KISS fan page writeup about the Gratitude project. Gene Simmons of KISS and his wife Shannon Tweed are supporting this troop morale effort.

This is a simple effort that requires nothing more than a piece of cardboard and a marker. Make yourself a little (or big) sign that says "THANK YOU" and then take a picture of yourself, friends, family or co-workers with the sign. 

Hero To Hero is encouraging first responders to get creative and send us your photos. You can send your photos to Thankasoldier at the address below. All the photos will be made into You Tube videos for our troops around the world to see.

 

   

 

Gratitude Project Press Release

January 19th. 2010

Thankasoldier.net is very excited to announce The Gratitude Project, a
series of YouTube videos showing a collage of images from supporters of
our men and women in uniform from all countries of the coalition.  Thank A
Soldier started as a ‘Cause’ page on Facebook and in just over a year has
surpassed 3.4 Million members from all over the world.

Too often you hear “If you support the troops, you support the war”, but
this couldn’t be further from the truth, it is about our men and women
from all branches of the force and from all allied nations doing their
job.  This project is for our troops assisting with disaster relief in
Haiti, assisting with the fight against piracy in Somalia, on guard here
at home ready to go when needed.

We have received tremendous support with this project too, most recently
Rock Legend Gene Simmons and his wife; Shannon Tweed submitted a photo
holding a "Thank You" sign with Gene saluting.  Other organizations that
support our troops in various ways have come onboard as well, such as
Operation Gratitude and HerotoHero.US  & Hero To Hero Team Canada.

Showing gratitude to our men and women doesn't cost a penny.  All you have
to do is take a photo that says "Thank You" and people can interpret that
however they wish.  Once you take the photo we ask that you send it to
thankyou@thankasoldier.net and it will be featured in the video.

We have received photos from all over the world, United States, Canada,
Britain, Australia, and even Argentina and Turkey, truly amazing!  Also as
a nice surprise, we have received over 40 photos from Soldiers in
Afghanistan and Iraq who have heard about this project and are sending us
"Thank You for the support" photos.

 Our promotional video on YouTube had over 7000 views the first week and
its picking up steam fast, to view the video search YouTube for "The
Gratitude Project - Presented by Thank A Soldier" or go to the direct
link.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCDseAUV6oc

Brief history of my Support Our Troops efforts:
2007 - Tim Horton’s for our troops was started and have sent over 40,000
cups of free coffee to soldiers
2007 - Operation Pen Pal launched and to date have paired over 7000 people
with soldiers as pen pals
2008 - Petitioned to Canada post for a support our troops stamp and it was
released in Oct 2009
2008 - Support & networking site launched for families of military personal
2009 - Thank A Soldier cause launched and has 3.4 Million members to date
2009 - www.thankasoldlier.net designed and donated by Chris Shave of
mister six studios
2009 - Thankasoldier.net remains advertising free & donation free
2010 - The Gratitude Project Launched
For more details contact: info@thankasoldier.net

Thank You

Dave Murphy – Calgary, Alberta –  Thankasoldier.net Founder
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thankasoldier
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thankasoldier
Blog Page : http://thankasoldier.wordpress.com
Website : Http://www.thankasoldier.net

 

 

 

THE FOLLOWING IS REPRODUCED FROM FROM KISS WORLD 

  Tuesday, January 19 - 1:24 PM

 

 

 ~~**~~

 

Posted Dec/16/2009.... Press Release

Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Hockey Team Supports the Troops

 

The Waterloo Wolves are teaming up with Hero to Hero.  Hero to Hero matches emergency services personnel and sports teams with Canadian troops serving overseas.   The personnel or teams from Canada send autographed shirts and other special items to the troops, showing their support for the members of the Canadian Armed Forces..

 

The mission of the Waterloo Wolves is to provide the youth of Waterloo with a first class major midget hockey program.   With the best available coaching, training and facilities, we have built a centre of excellence which enables our players to excel in a program which instils team values and a sense of community.

 

Here’s how the Wolves (16 to 17 years of age) will be involved:

 

Sandi Henning

Marketing & Media

Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA Operating Committee

Email:  tymflys@yahoo.com

Phone:  519-634-8661

Website:  http://waterloowolvesaaa.wordpress.com/  

 

 

 ~~**~~

 

Support the Hamilton Burn Unit & Outpatient Clinic

November 7th. 2009

 

~~**~~

 

Beauties and Beasts to Support  Wounded Warriors

 

 

Greetings all,

I need your help in getting the word out on the streets to encourage Canadians to assist in a very special program. Starting this Sunday on CBC 04 Oct 2009 you will be treated to a most unique Canadian display of "Beauties and Beasts". The CBC has assembled 8 pairs of the most unlikely NHL types with some very successful female figure skaters. Basically it is a "So you think you can dance" Canadian version on ice. Some of the players include Probert, Domi and LeMieux, imagine Bob Probert and Domi in figure skates. The idea is that each pair skates for their chosen charity. The good news is Bob Probert and Kristina Lenko  are skating for the troops. While all are worthy charities, clearly as Founder and President of www.woundedwarriors.ca I am biased as I hope you are too. It works basically like "American Idol" he with the most votes wins.....so we need to get out the vote.

For more details like getting an account early, to vote and how to vote now to show your support to the Probert/Lenko team click on to  http://www.cbc.ca/battleand log in and vote for Probert and Lenko and tell everyone you know to. 

What I need you to do is send this email forward and ask all your friends and associates to do the same and so on and so on. What we need to do is create a grass roots movement that sends out the message a vote for Probert/Lenko is a vote to show real and concrete support to the troops. The deal here is while we are guaranteed $25K there is $100K on the table. While the money is great the longer we keep them on skates the better the media coverage the more folks understand the issues surrounding the wounded. That kind of funding will go a long way to fund programs to assist wounded CF members. In the event you were not sure who and what www.woundedwarriors.ca does allow me to articulate as follows;

"WoundedWarriors.ca is an independent not-for-profit registered charity that supports CF members wounded (both visible and non visible wounds). It is primarily a fundraising mechanism that supports existing programs that tends to wounded CF members."

I normally do not send emails of this type however on this one I need you all to step up to the plate and get behind this. I know you all believe passionately in giving our troops the best we can. Please encourage your friends to tell two friends and get a really strong grass roots movement going.

To all those media types I have sent this to please feel free to contact me and I would be glad to arrange an interview with Probert/Lenko

 

Thank you for your time and consideration

Wayne

Captain Wayne Johnston
J1 Casualty Admin O/Admin pertes
Joint Task Force Central/Land Force Central Area Headquarters | Quartier général de la Force opérationelle interarmée Centre/Secteur Centre de la Force terrestre
Lieutenant-Colonel George Taylor Denison III Armoury | Manège militaire Lieutenant-colonel George Taylor Denison III
1 Yukon Lane, Toronto, Ontario M3K 0A1 | 1 Ruelle Yukon, Toronto, Ontario M3K 0A1
george.johnston3@forces.gc.ca
Telephone | Téléphone 416-633-6200 ext 5151
BBerry 647-221-3334
Fax | Télécopieur: 416-634-5341
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

 

~~**~~

 

~~**~~

 

National Peacekeepers Day

Summer of '74 a dark time for our peacekeepers.

Toronto Star

Aug 09, 2009 

Robert Smol

The summer of 1974 was violent and trying for the Canadian Forces, a season that took 15 lives and for more than three decades was known as the deadliest period for this country's military.

It was a summer in which peacekeeping operations went wrong in Cyprus and the Middle East. But unlike the current war in Afghanistan, the Canadian public paid little attention to either the high casualty count or to the military conflicts faced that year by our forces.

"It was not like today, when if there is a casualty in Afghanistan the Highway of Heroes is always packed with people on the bridges and overpasses paying their respects," says Hamilton resident John MacFarlane, who served as a traffic technician with the Forces in the Middle East in 1974.

Thirty-five years ago today the Canadian military endured its darkest day since the Korean War when a Canadian military aircraft was shot down by Syrian forces. All nine passengers and crew on board died. (Last year the federal government declared Aug. 9 to be National Peacekeepers Day in commemoration of that event.)

That summer, Canada was contributing peacekeepers to three UN missions in the troubled eastern Mediterranean region. The Canadian Airborne Regiment had more than 400 commandos deployed in Cyprus (a contingent that would double by that August). Canadian troops were also deployed on the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria and along the then border between Israel and Egypt.

Among the units specifically formed to support Canada's UN commitments was 116 Air Transport Unit, which provided air logistics support to the peacekeepers in the region. "These flights were continuous," recalled former pilot Bill Vermue, who was serving with 116 ATU in 1974. "We had three airplanes, and all of our crews and support crews, to do daily runs to Beirut to pick up supplies for the entire contingent.

"That could be anything from food to barbed wire, to a load of toilet paper to a load of whatever was needed, and then to transport people from back and forth between Cyprus, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Damascus and Beirut." The Canadian military transports had to adhere strictly to flight paths and overflight clearances arranged with the host nations. Occasionally they would be flying through a gauntlet of anti-aircraft weapons that could, at any time, open fire.

"The one thing I distinctly recall on the east side of the Suez Canal are the SAM (surface-to-air missile) sites that we flew over," said Vermue. "You had to make absolutely certain that you adhered to your route and your altitude but you could still see the SAMs actually track you as we went outbound over the Mediterranean."It was just such a routine flight, UN Flight 51, that took off from Beirut on Aug. 9, 1974, with five crew and four military passengers on board, headed for Damascus.

As always, the aircraft notified Damascus air traffic control of its approach as it neared the Syrian border. Shortly thereafter the last recorded transmission from the doomed aircraft came from the first officer, Capt. Keith Mirau: "Roger, we are cleared to Damascus VOR to maintain 8000 cross Mike Echo Zulu at 10,000 or above."

It will never be known if there was any further communication between Flight 51 and Damascus air traffic control. The next few minutes of flight control tape were erased before Canadian and UN investigators could gain access to it. A U.S. serviceman on the ground later said he saw three missiles fired at the aircraft as Mirau and the pilot, Capt. Garry Foster, attempted a controlled descent.

Don Fish, a 116 ATU pilot sent to investigate the crash site, saw clear evidence supporting the eyewitness account. "I believe they fired three SAM6 at the aircraft," Fish said. "The first one blew the right tail cone, the second one flamed the left engine, and the third went through the floorboards into the aircraft itself." According to Fish, the Canadian investigators were hampered by the Syrians. They were not allowed to take pictures, and a camera was confiscated, he said.

Both the Canadian and UN investigations eventually concluded the plane was downed by anti-aircraft fire. The Syrian investigation, according to retired lieutenant colonel Peter Francis, who flew with 116 ATU in 1974, claimed the plane crashed into an unused SAM site.

Back home, the attack – and the arrival soon after of nine military coffins – attracted little or no attention from either the public or the Trudeau government. It was, in part, according to Francis, overshadowed by historic news coming out of the United States the very same day: Richard Nixon, faced with impeachment over his role in the Watergate scandal, had resigned as the U.S. president.

Meanwhile, Canadian ground troops were embroiled in an all-out war that had engulfed Cyprus after long-simmering tensions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots finally turned violent. At the time, there already was a UN peacekeeping force on the Mediterranean island. Canada was contributing about 400 commandos from the Canadian Airborne Regiment to what was, till then, a relatively quiet rotation.

That mission suddenly became very serious when, on July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded after the Greek Cypriot National Guard overthrew the island's president. Over the next few days the Airborne commandos struggled to hold their ground between the two belligerents, a challenge made worse by the fact that some of the other UN contingents began pulling back. They also grappled with confining regulations.

"Unless you were shot at, you weren't allowed to use any type of weapon," recalled retired major-general Alain Forand, who was a young captain with the regiment at that time. Caught in the middle, the Airborne, as well as reinforcements arriving from Canada, had to return fire on more than one occasion.

Once Forand had to rescue two wounded Airborne soldiers, who were still drawing fire from the warring factions. "As I went to get these guys, I placed two machine-guns and told them that if I am fired upon I will give you the order to fire," he recalled. "As I went down to get the first one, I was fired upon. So I gave the order to fire back."

Tensions heightened with word that the Turks planned to occupy the airport, a vital position being guarded by the Canadians. "The commander of the Airborne battery drew a line virtually on the road and said, `You cross that line and we will open fire,'" said retired major general Cameron Ross, who in 1974 was a lieutenant leading a troop of armoured reconnaissance vehicles backing up the Airborne.

Over the next few hours the lightly armed and outnumbered Canadians, without the support of battle tanks or heavy artillery, dug in and waited for an entire Turkish brigade, supported by tanks, to advance on their positions. As it turned out, the Turks backed down on their threat, thus avoiding what could have become an all-out battle between NATO allies. "We would not have had much to protect ourselves if they had come to get us with their tanks," said Forand. "But we surely would have put up a good fight."

As the summer and the fighting drew to a close, two Airborne soldiers were to die in Cyprus. Another 30 were injured. Four additional servicemen were to die in the line of duty mainly from operational and training accidents. On Oct. 18, a further five Canadian servicemen, mostly from 450 Transport Helicopter Squadron, were killed while on duty. Military historian Jack Granatstein, a fellow at the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, believes the 1974 deaths are little remembered because they "fly in the face of Canadians' perception of what peacekeeping is and therefore we do not talk about it.

"Canadians assume that there are no dead in peacekeeping and that is why they like it."

 

~~**~~

 

 

July 30, 2009

If you live in or near Saskatoon, Saulte Ste-Marie or Calgary, you need to check out our Red Friday page for information about upcoming troop support events in those areas.

Are you planning a troop support event? Let us know, we'll help spread the word.

 

~~**~~

 

Jack Babcock celebrates his 109th. Birthday

 

July 23/2009

Hero To Hero Founder and Director Liz Jackson had the priviledge of spending today with Jack Babcock on the occasion of his 109th. birthday. Jack is Canada's only remaining World War One Veteran. We are especially honoured to have Jack as a Celebrity Hero Ambassador for our program.

Jack and his wife Dorothy hosted a party at Rosauers restaurant in Spokane Washington for family, friends and a few special guests. Liz presented Jack with video birthday greetings from across Canada and the United States on behalf of the Hero To Hero Troop Morale Campaign.

Below are links to 4 videos that Liz has compiled for Jack.

Happy 109th. Birthday Jack Part 1 www.youtube.com/watch

Happy Birthday, eh Jack  www.youtube.com/watch

More Birthday Greetings for Jack www.youtube.com/watch

Oh Look! Even More Messages for Jack's 109th. Birthday www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

Canada's last surviving WWI vet turns 109 today

Posted By JESSICA CUNHA, FOR SUN MEDIA

Posted 10 hours ago

Jack Babcock, Canada's last remaining First World War veteran, turned 109 today.

Babcock celebrated his birthday with lunch yesterday at his favourite restaurant, Rosauers at the Y, with friends, family and the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Greg Thompson.

Born July 23, 1900, in Holleford, north of Kingston, Babcock has lived in Spokane, Wash., with his second wife, Dorothy, since 1976.

He enlisted when he was only 15 years old, lying about his age in order to join the 146th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, in Sydenham.

By the time he arrived in England to begin his training, his young age was discovered and he was transferred in 1917 to the Boys Battalion -- also known as the Young Soldiers Battalion -- where he waited to come of age to go to the front lines. But the war ended first, only a few months after he turned 18.

Babcock said he remembers how the officers who had been on the front lines used to come into the canteen and drink a lot of beer and tell horrible stories. All of the young men would gather around and listen.

It would get their blood going and made them want to get out and do their part.

"I feel guilty because I'm not a war hero," Babcock said. "I didn't get to accomplish what I set out to do."

In the 1920s, Mr. Babcock headed for the United States to find work. He joined the U. S. army shortly thereafter, where he served for three years. When the U. S. entered the Second World War, he tried to enlist but was told he was too old and that he needed citizenship in order to fight.

In 1946, he became a naturalized U. S. citizen, giving up his Canadian ties, but in 2008, Babcock wrote a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, explaining he would like his Canadian citizenship back. His request was honoured.

"I was so pleased about getting my Canadian citizenship again because I have such fond memories of my childhood," he said. "I always felt I was Canadian at heart, but the U. S. has also been good to me."

 

                                                         ~~**~~

 

 

 

 

 

Hero To Hero Team Canada is pleased to announce that the Emergency Services Adventure Race (ESAR) has chosen to support Canadian troops through the Hero To Hero Troop Morale Campaign.

 

ESAR is a one-day adventure race for Emergency Service personnel and Civilian teams.

Over 100 teams of three will compete in different disciplines as well as various special tasks in a race to be the first team across the finish line.  This is a non-stop 5-8 hour event that tests the skills and physical abilities of these police, fire, paramedic, military and civilian personnel.  Disciplines include: mountain biking, canoeing, trekking, navigation, teamwork and special tasks.

 

The Emergency Services Adventure Race (ESAR) is a race specifically designed for emergency service personnel. The categories consist of 911 male, 911 female, 911 Co-ed and 911 Veterans.  In order to be a 911 team you must have 2 of the 3 participants in police, fire, or the emergency medical service field.  There is a 911 veteran’s category for a team with their combined age over 120 years.  The race is limited to the first 100 teams of three.

Finishing is not a choice – It’s a duty.  

 

The Emergency Services Adventure Race was created in 2003 by Mark Arnold a member of the emergency services who came up with the idea to create an adventure race for Police, Fire and Paramedics. With the help of Heather Korol, an entrepreneur and avid adventure racer, the inaugural ESAR was run on June 5th 2003. ESAR has gained a reputation for being a well organized race course that is demanding, yet still rewarding. Many race ESAR strictly to finish while others compete against other teams that they know. Regardless the post race party is not to be missed! ESAR was the largest adventure race in 2006 and has been steadily growing over the years.

 

 The race will be held on Saturday June 13th.2009 at CFB Borden / Camp Blackdown in Simcoe County just West of Barrie Ontario.

 

Hero To Hero wishes all contestants the best of luck and we look forward to seeing you at the event.

 

 

 ~~**~~

 

 

~~**~~ 

 

 

 

International Day of Mourning
April 28th. 2009 

 

Each year on April 28th. workers, their families, friends, social justice advocates and concerned citizens including first responders and military families attend a Remembrance Ceremony for those who have died in the workplace and lend support to those who have been injured.

The National Day of Mourning was fixed as April 28th. to commemorate Third Reading in the Ontario Legislature of the first comprehensive Workers Compensation Act in Canada in 1914. In 1984 the Canadian Labour Congress declared a National Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job.

Twenty Five years later, with Canada leading the way, this years Day of Mourning was recognized in more than 100 countries.
Although certain groups of workers seem more vulnerable than others, any one of us could be the next to suffer an injury or be diagnosed with an occupational disease.

Special respect was paid to members of the Canadian Armed Forces this year with the laying of a wreath by the Sarnia and District Labour Council.

The Day of Mourning serves the prime purpose of creating safer workplaces so workers can end their working lives in dignity and health - not premature death, disease and disfigurement.
If your community holds a Day of Mourning we encourage you and your family to attend.
Check with your local Labour Council.
In Sarnia, Ontario we hold an hour long ceremony down at our waterfront each year where a permanent Memorial has been built to honour our workers.
To see photo's of this years event click on our photo gallery.

~~**~~

 

 

Hero To Hero Team Canada
 Packout 2009

Date: Friday February 27th. 2009
Time: 1:30 pm till 3 pm
Location: Wolseley Barracks
Royal School Building located just inside the gates off 701 Oxford St.
London, Ontario
  All are welcome!

Come join us for coffee with First Responders & Troops from London Ontario and points beyond. 
We'll put you to work boxing up some of the over 1400 T-shirts and hats that have been donated by Police, Fire, EMS, Border Services, Coast Guard personnel and many other First Responders destined for our Canadian troops deployed around the world.
We are even anticipating a special delivery of t-shirts by military helicopter to arrive during the Packout.

Hero To Hero Team Canada would like to thank all the troops that took the time to send the above pictures (we know you have more important things to do).
Many more pictures and e-mails from troops can be found on the HeroToHero.US website.

Any questions?  Feel free to contact me at the e-mail or phone # below

Kevin McHarg
Hero To Hero Team Canada
1940 Avenue Rd. SS1
Bright's Grove, Ontario
Canada
N0N 1C0
Home: 519-869-6940
Cell: 519-464-2644
e-mail: mchargs@xcelco.on.ca

Support Our Troops...... Wear RED on Fridays

~~**~~

~ Sarnia Sting Remembrance Day tribute to Veterans/Troops ~  

On Saturday November 8th. 2008 the Sarnia Sting Hockey Club of the Ontario Hockey League held a Remembrance Day / Red Friday Rally/ tribute to our troops/ pre game ceremony at the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Complex (SSEC) in Sarnia Ontario.
The Sting hold an annual Remembrance Day ceremony before their game played closest to Remembrance Day each year. This year the Sting invited Hero To Hero Team Canada and the Lambton County Military Family Supprt Group to participate in the planning of their tribute. The intent was to honour our Veterans as well as currently serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families.

We had several special guests fly in for this event including Liz Jackson, the Founder and Director of HeroToHero.US, from Lakewood Washington.

Canadian country singer and HeroToHero Celebrity Ambassador Julian Austin also donated his time to come and sing for our troops at this event.

The evening began with the following troops being called onto the ice surface...

Master Corporal Chris Farrish representing our troops in Afghanistan.
Chris is a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment and served in Afghanistan in 2007.

Major Chris Brown Represented all those who have served, and are serving in Peacekeeping Missions throughout the world.
Major Brown has recently returned from a six month deployment to the UN Missions in South Sudan and Darfur.  
He is currently the Officer Commanding, ‘C’ Squadron First Hussars in Sarnia Ontario.

Jason Bosker served our country in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1989 until 2005. As a member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Jason was deployed for 3 tours of duty in the war torn former Yugoslavia.
Jason is now a Firefighter with Sarnia Fire Rescue Services.
 
Mr. Jack Lachance Represented our Korean War veterans. Jack served as a member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.  Jack has been instrumental in the creation of the Korean War Memorial in Brampton and has written the poem that is engraved on that memorial wall.

Mr.Jack Graham Represented our World War II veterans. Jack served as a member of the Essex Scottish Regiment who on 19 August, 1942 participated in the Dieppe Raid where he became a Prisoner of War for the next 3 years.

 At this point fans were directed to the Jumbotron for a recorded message from Canada's last World War One veteran, Jack Babcock.

Jack Babcock represented the 620,000 Canadian soldiers who volunteered to serve in World War One.
60,000 were killed in action and another 170,000 were wounded during this great war.Liz Jackson arranged for Jacks video message and Jack is now officially a HeroToHero.US/Team Canada Celebrity Ambassador.
More about Jack to follow.

The next to be introduced were the familes of our fallen.

Liz Jackson represented her cousin Jake Herring, a member of the U.S. Army Stryker Brigade who was killed in action in Iraq on April 24th. 2004.

Errol Cushley represented his son, Pte. William Cushley, a member of the 1st. Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment who was killed in action in Afghanistan on September 3 2006.

Don Poland represented his son Brent Poland, a member of the 2nd. Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. Brent was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 8th. 2007.

Next, Canadian country singer Julian Austin performed his patriotic song The Red and White. He sang from the heart as he looked into the eyes of our Veterans and the families of our fallen.
After a moment of silence Julian then sang O Canada.
This was followed by a ceremonial puck drop by Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Cushley and Mr. Poland.
Everyone then left the ice surface while Bagpiper William Belet played.

We will be uploading a copy of the complete ceremony to You Tube in the near future. In the mean time, my daughter, who videotaped part of the event from ice level has posted a video of Julian Austin singing The Red and White and Oh Canada at the game. There is also a tribute to our fallen.

ca.youtube.com/watch

You can see all the photo's of the event on our H2H photo album...

herotohero.smugmug.com/CANADA%20-%20REMEMBRANCE%20VISIT%20NOVEMBER%202008

Liz Jackson arrived in Sarnia 2 days before the game so on the thursday she arrived we visited with our friends and Hero To Hero supporters out at Lambton College Fire School.
We also stopped in to visit our friend Warrant Officer Tim Park at the Major George Stirrett Armoury.That night we attended the Sarnia Legionaires hockey game where there was a Rememberance Day ceremony before this game, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62.
Members of the Sarnia Sting were handing out poppies to all fans in attendance (Legionaire players reciprocated and handed out poppies at the Sting game on saturday).

Julian Austin arrived in Sarnia on Friday morning and we kept him hopping from the minute he got off his plane at 10:30 am till late into the evening.
As soon as he arrived we whisked him off to a Remembrance Day ceremony being held at the Strangway Centre at the invite of Mayor Mike Bradley.
Members of our Royal Canadian Legion and other dignitaries spoke and kids from a local elementary school recited "In Flanders Fields".
After the ceremony was over Julian asked if he could sing for those in attendance. Needless to say people were thrilled.
From there we headed up to city hall for an official welcome by "Mayor Mike" and the signing of the City of Sarnia guest book by Liz and Julian.

From there we grabbed lunch at the Ole Country Diner (Hero To Hero supporters) with the Mayor, several First Responders and Linda Smith of the Lambton Military Family Supprt Group.

After that it was off to the local radio station to participate in a live half hour broadcast to promote the upcoming Sting Remembrance Day ceremony.

Next was a stop that Julian had requested, a chance to visit the main Sarnia firehall just to thank the firefighters for the job they do.
Julian enjoyed sliding down the firepole a lot more than his ride in the bucket of the 100' ladder truck.
He then spent a half hour drivng around the city in the ladder truck chattting with the firefighters. Julian makes friends pretty easily. He is probably the most personable guy i have ever met.

After a quick stop at the house we headed downtown to join some firefighters, members of the Legion and assorted friends for dinner and a visit to the Cheeky Monkey record store as part of Sarnia's first friday walkabout.
The Cheeky Monkey is our last independantly owned record store and i wanted Julian to meet Mary Anne and Roland, the owners.
They are a big part of Sarnia's dowtown revival bringing in musicians, artists, film makers and others on the first friday of each month.  They are also troop supporters.
It was 10 pm by the time we got home and Julian was able to finally unpack his bags.

Saturday morning we stopped in to the SSEC so Julian could meet with Dean Collver and Mark Glavin of the Sting to finalize preparations for that night's game.  
We then visited the Armoury where troops from the 1st. Hussars were training for the weekend. Liz, Julian and i had an opportunity to speak about the HeroToHero program and the value of the program was reinforced when the Commanding Officer spoke up and told us that he had received a Hero To Hero t-shirt while he was deployed in Sudan...sweet!
After the troops signed our banners and we played with their weapons it was back to the SSEC for sound check and dinner with members of our Armed Forces and their families, hosted by the Lambton County Military Family Support Group.

After the hockey game we were invited back to the Armoury where troops were staying overnight.
Julian performed for the troops and a few songs were captured on video.
Check out Julian Austin singing his new song "Still Over There" for the 1st' Hussars...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18mq3ZMF-E

It was an incredible weekend with many special moments, many connections were made between some very special people.

I want to thank the Sarnia Sting for allowing HeroToHero.US/Hero To Hero Team Canada to be a part of this Remembrance Day tribute to our troops.

Oh yeah! There was even a hockey game and the Sting won.....Go Sting. You guys rock!