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Posted June/1/2011

Home-front helpers pledge to press on even after combat ends in Afghanistan
Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - When Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan entered its final phase, Karen Wilson got on board.

The Ontario grandmother doubled her electric bill and burned out a convection oven while producing more than 35,000 cookies as a show of support to the Canadian soldiers who were putting their lives on the line in the war-ravaged country.

Labouring in her kitchen in Petrolia, Ont., Wilson churned out shortbread confections by the hundreds, devoting no less than eight hours a week to the task. On weekends, she sold baked goods and homemade "Support the Troops" buttons at community events to finance her project.

As Canada prepares to end its combat role in Afghanistan for good, Wilson is looking forward to the first lull in her schedule since 2008.

She acknowledges looking forward to the break, which she expects to spend mostly with her grandchildren, but hopes the respite is temporary.

"Even when I bake in the summer when it's hot, I keep thinking when I pull them out of the oven, I'm hot and the sweat's coming off me maybe a little bit, but I think, 'Those young guys are over there, and they're in much worse conditions than I am,'" Wilson said.

"If I can just send a little bit of love and the taste of home, it makes me happy."

Wilson's attitude is typical of the civilians who devoted time and often money to the cause of promoting Canada's troops. The nearly decade-long mission in Afghanistan has inspired Canadians across the country, many of whom had no direct connection with the military, to launch grassroots projects designed to encourage soldiers in their work.

Some of those initiatives, such as the "Red Fridays" movement, took on a national scope and demanded major commitments from their founders.

Military wives Lisa Meller and Karen Boire have spent the past five years organizing campaigns and rallies urging Canadians to don red on Fridays as a mark of support for the troops. Meller admitted to feeling a little burned out.

"I think I'm just going to take a break," she said. "It takes a lot of energy and time when you plan these events. I'd like to slow down a little bit."

Meller and other military supporters, however, say their work is far from over, and are bracing for a long-term struggle to maintain public interest in military affairs once the high-profile mission has faded from the headlines.

Kevin McHarg, a firefighter from Sarnia, Ont., who started Hero to Hero Team Canada, said public support will almost certainly wane as the mission recedes into history.

"Everything has a life," McHarg said.

"No matter how good a cause it is, people get weary of hearing about it. You can't do anything about it except try and do your part to keep things going."

McHarg collects used shirts from fellow firefighters, police officers and other first responders across the country. The shirts are emblazoned with handwritten messages of encouragement, packed up with contributions from local businesses, including Wilson's cookies, and shipped to soldiers serving abroad.

McHarg, who currently devotes a part of every day to his project, said he'll likely have to work even harder to drum up future clothing donations once the combat mission ends.

The end of Canadian combat in Afghanistan won't diminish Hero to Hero's mandate, he added: there will still be hundreds of soldiers deployed in Afghanistan in a training capacity, as well as many others in locales around the world, including Haiti and Libya.

Dave Murphy, a 35-year-old Calgary resident behind a series of online campaigns to promote the efforts of Canadian soldiers, said he feels the same way.

Murphy's website, Thankasoldier.net, has attracted more than 4.1 million Facebook supporters from around the world, about a quarter of whom live in Canada, he said.

Some of Murphy's advocacy efforts were directly tied to the Afghan mission, such as the successful campaign to encourage Tim Hortons to provide free coffee to the soldiers deployed at Kandahar Airfield.

The end of the combat mission means even more opportunities to promote military causes, said Murphy, noting that his current campaign to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder has taken on new urgency as war-weary soldiers return from the battlefield.

The Forces boosters all say supporting the troops must continue long after the mission in Afghanistan comes to an end.

"Some people just assume that because our soldiers, for the most part, are coming out of Afghanistan that we're going to stop," McHarg said.

"It's just a matter of letting them know that no, we're not stopping."

© The Canadian Press, 2011

Michelle McQuigge
Reporter/Editor

http://www.thecanadianpress.com
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s trusted news leader: The Canadian Press delivers credible, comprehensive news reporting from Canada and around the world in multiple formats, serving newspapers, broadcasters, websites, wireless carriers, magazines, government and corporate clients

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Posted April/27/2011

HeroToHero.US visit to General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada in London, Ontario 2008.

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Posted April/27/201

Intrepid Magazine

Ontario Professional Firefighters Association

Click here to read original version on OPFFA website. It is easier to read than this copied version.

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TheRecord.com

Waterloo, Ontario

January 21st. 2010

Hockey team supports the troops in Afghanistan

Record staff

Cass Frey (left), Jordan Witt (centre) and Evan Canzi displ ...

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January 20, 2010

BY ANDREW COPPOLINO

You might say that of late the members of the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA hockey team have been giving the shirts off their backs. The team, one of the flagship squads of Waterloo Minor Hockey, has been working off-ice to support our troops in Afghanistan in the Hero to Hero program.

Hero to Hero in the United States and Hero to Hero Team Canada are partners in a program that is designed to boost the morale of American and Canadian troops serving overseas.

The campaign matches emergency services personnel and first-responders with sports teams, all of whom give, literally, the shirts off their backs, along with a range of other items from home that have special meaning to the men and women serving in very tough circumstances abroad.

“I hope they’ll know that people back at home are thinking about them and respect what they are doing for our country,” says Wolves goalie Jordan Witt. “We know what they’re doing over there and that it’s a dangerous situation.”

As is the case with many other minor sports teams, especially in the older age groups, the mission of the Wolves (with players aged 16 and 17) is not only to learn the game of hockey at higher levels, but also to gain an awareness of community values and global responsibility – and to take direct action to effect positive change where possible.

“Our players like to get involved with the community outside of hockey,” says Sandi Henning, who does marketing and media relations for the Wolves “We asked if Hero to Hero is something they would like to get involved in. They were hugely interested and just started going with it. It’s been a good event for them.”

Witt, a Sir John A. Macdonald high school student, and his Wolves teammates have seen to the details of the event themselves. They have autographed game jerseys and Wolves T-shirts for the troops in Afghanistan. They will be presented to Kevin McHarg of Hero to Hero and Captain Robin Cooke of the Canadian Armed Forces at a game between Waterloo and Kitchener on Jan 25. Game time is 7 p.m. at Piller’s Ice Haus at RIM Park.

The team also is sending tennis balls for the troops’ ball hockey games, and the players have prepared personalized messages for the soldiers. Local companies have donated their time and costs in creating and printing a banner which can be signed by anyone in the community at Wolves’ home games. Members of local emergency services and first-responders have been invited to send a shirt from their organizations as well.

“The Kitchener Rangers gave us an autographed jersey that we are sending over with our items,” Henning says.

Evan Canzi, 16, a Wolves co-captain, is in his first year playing with Waterloo. The event has forced him to think about the situation our soldiers and their supporting personnel find themselves in overseas.

“This is important,” says Canzi, a student at Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus. “We can’t do that much, but to be able to send over a few things could make an impact and that feels good. And the troops will feel good knowing that people here are thinking about them.”

Perhaps it is the few simple items – a mere tennis ball or two – that are the best reminders of home, adds Witt.

“It’s a great opportunity for our team to help out with the soldiers overseas, and not too many kids get to do that. Certainly playing road hockey there will be a little taste of home.”

For more information about the Hero to Hero program, visit www.herotohero.us/TeamCanada.html. For Wolves game schedules, go to www.waterloowolvesaaa.wordpress.com.

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Welland Tribune

Welland, Ontario

July 4, 2009

Birthday greetings for Canada's last WWI vet

Posted By ALLAN BENNER

WELLAND — They didn’t sing Happy Birthday, despite Phil Dyson’s efforts to encourage his fellow fire fighters to do so.

But the heroic men and women on Welland’s fire department still did their part yesterday to help another hero celebrate a special day.

Through the Welland Fire Department’s involvement with the Hero to Hero program, Welland fire fighters made a videotaped birthday greeting for Jack Babcock, Canada’s last surviving veteran of the First World War who turns 109 years old on July 23.

Dyson brought together the firefighters along with friends and family to film the short video, which he will e-mail to Hero to Hero founder Liz Jackson.

“We’ve got some of the kids here, families of the fire fighters and we’re just going to say happy birthday,” he said.

Jackson will then bring that video, along with other videos filmed by emergency responders from throughout North America, with her when she attends Babcock’s birthday celebration being held in Spokane, Washington, where the Canadian now lives.

Dyson said the Hero to Hero program is designed to boost the morale of soldiers fighting over seas.

For instance, he said through the Hero to Hero program, the local firefighters have sent gifts to Niagara residents fighting in Afghanistan, such as t-shirts.

“They’re over in Afghanistan and they receive a Welland Fire Department t-shirt. It’s just a morale boost,” he said.

Babcock is also involved in the organization as a celebrity ambassador.

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London Free Press

London, Ontario

July 8, 2009

Heroes put heart into heroes Wed, July 8, 2009 AFGHANISTAN: 1,000 shirts from police, firefighters and paramedics are going to the war zone	Reddit Technorati Blinklist Feed Me Yahoo Socializer Ma.gnolia Raw Sugar Simpy Squidoo Spurl Blink Bits Rojo Blogmarks Shadows Netvouz Scuttle Co.mments Bloglines Tailrank Sitejot +Help
By JOE MATYAS

Wolseley Barracks is back on the map as a primary shipping point for Hero to Hero, a morale- boosting program for troops in Afghanistan.

About 1,000 shirts from police officers, firefighters and paramedics from across Southwestern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada, printed with the uniform shoulder flashes of the emergency services and a solidarity crest, were sent to Afghanistan from Wolseley this week, the Canadian co-ordinator of the troops support program said yesterday.

"We sent about 28 boxes from Wolseley's Military Family Support Centre for shipment abroad," said Kevin McHarg, a Sarnia firefighter. "It's a relief that we've received official approval to do this and that things are back on track."

The final shipment of shirts, hats, banners and posters from donations packed in London's central fire station in late February is destined to be flown to Kandahar on a military aircraft, said McHarg.

"It has taken time to sort things out and move the inventory, but we've gone through proper channels and we're set up for the future now," he said.

In March, the first responders support program for troops received a setback when the Hero to Hero materials packed in London and sent to Wolseley were ordered off the base by its commander, Major David Devries.

He said the 31 Canadian Brigade Group at Wolseley wasn't authorized to forward the goods because there was no clearance for the shipment. Futhermore, operational supplies take priority on military shipments, Devries said, adding other goods can only be sent when space is available.

Although that's the regulation, Wolseley had accepted and forwarded the Hero to Hero donations for the last two years, McHarg said.

"That's what caught us by surprise," he said.

After the setback, McHarg had to take Hero to Hero goods to Camp Borden near Barrie for shipment to Trenton and then abroad. About half the March packout was sent that way, he said.

The change in arrangements also meant the goods were to be shipped by sea instead of air, adding about two months to the transit time.

The option of air transit was restored based on availability with the official clearance to return to Wolseley, said McHarg.

"We'll be able to do that on occasion when there's no troop rotation going on and there's some space available on flights," he said.

Hero to Hero is a program for first responders to show support for troops abroad during their tour of duty -- one person in uniform to another.

The program originated in the United States in 2003 with Liz Jackson, a woman from Tacoma, Wash., whose cousin was killed in Iraq.

McHarg started the Team Canada branch about three years ago. Team Canada sent 225 shirts to troops in its first year, 1,261 last year and about 2,200 this year.

Joe Matyas is a Free Press reporter. joe.matyas@sunmedia.ca

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Sarnia Observer May/15/2009

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Put aside gifts, send letters to troops
By ALTHIA RAJ, NATIONAL BUREAU
The Ottawa Sun

March 23 2009

Thanks for the gifts but please send letters to the troops instead, says Canada's top soldier.

Gen. Walt Natynczyk, chief of the defence staff, said the forces appreciate the show of support from Canadians but "the collection of gift boxes and packages for shipment overseas is not practical" because there is limited space on airplanes.

"Unfortunately, operational and operational support equipment take priority, and with limited space these donated items create an overburden on the CF logistics system," he writes in a letter published in The Hill Times.

Natynczyk suggests Canadians should e-mail their support or post on the forces' message board. "Alternatively, postcards and letters addressed to 'any CF member' are acceptable," he said.

MORALE BOOST

Master Cpl. Donovan Ball, who served two tours in Afghanistan, said the troops often receive items such as licorice, cookies, candies, canned food and footballs.

"It's morale," he said of receiving items from strangers. "It makes you feel great."

Malcolm Bruce Wilson and his wife Karen sent 2,880 cookies to the troops in Afghanistan last Christmas.

The Petrolia, Ont., couple hoped to do it again this year, but they are not sure where this new policy leaves them.

"I'm not saying we should do it at Valentine's Day and Easter and everything else, but at Christmas time when you are away from the family and a nice big box of Christmas cookies shows up that you can share with fellow soldiers, I don't see anything wrong with that," he said.

Sarnia firefighter Kevin McHarg has been sending T-shirts to the troops for three years. The military has told him his packages will be allowed to go through -- but on ships instead of planes.

ALTHIA.RAJ@SUNMEDIA.CA

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24/03/2009 07h29
EnvoyerImprimer

Photo: collaboration spéciale
Merci pour les cadeaux, mais envoyez plutôt des lettres à nos troupes! Le général Walt Natynczyk, chef d’état-major de la Défense, affirme que les soldats apprécient le support des Canadiens mais que « l’accumulation de paquets cadeaux et d’emballages n’est pas pratique » parce qu’elle crée une surcharge dans les avions de transport.
« Malheureusement, l’équipement opérationnel est prioritaire et les cadeaux finissent par surcharger le système de logistique des forces canadiennes », a-t-il écrit dans une lettre publiée dans The Hill Times.

Le général Natynczyk suggère plutôt aux Canadiens de se servir des courriels et du forum des forces armées.

« Les cartes postales et les lettres adressées à “n’importe quel membre des forces canadiennes” sont acceptables », ajoute-t-il.

Selon le caporal-chef Donovan Ball, qui a déjà complété deux missions en Afghanistan, les soldats reçoivent souvent des trucs comme de la réglisse, des biscuits, des bonbons, des boîtes de conserve et des ballons de football.

« C’est bon pour le moral, dit-il. On se sent bien quand on reçoit un cadeau. »

Malcolm Bruce Wilson et sa femme Karen ont envoyé 2 880 biscuits aux troupes en Afghanistan pour Noël 2008. Le couple originaire de Petrolia en Ontario espère répéter l’exploit cette année malgré ces nouvelles restrictions.

« Nous ne ferions pas ça à la Saint-Valentin ou à Pâques, mais quand nos soldats sont loin de leurs proches à Noël, quoi de mieux que de leur offrir une énorme boîte de biscuits à partager avec les autres? »

Kevin McHarg, qui travaille comme pompier à Sarnia, envoie des t-shirts aux troupes canadiennes depuis trois ans.

Il avoue avoir eu de la difficulté à envoyer les t-shirts à partir de la base militaire de London en Ontario, mais l’armée lui a promis que ses colis se rendraient à destination – par bateau et non par avion.

INCONTOURNABLES
Concours vitevitevite.ca

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March/17/2009 - London Free Press

HERO TO HERO: Program's growth created problems
Gifts for troops given clearance
Joe Matyas
Sun Media
March 17, 2009
Canadian troops in Afghanistan will receive morale-boosting gifts from police, firefighters and paramedics that were packed in London after all.

Kevin McHarg

"I received a phone call from the Department of National Defence . . . that removes our roadblock and sets things up for the future," said Sarnia firefighter Kevin McHarg, Canadian co-ordinator of the Hero to Hero support program.

"All's well that ends well," he said. "Everything's good now."

About 1,000 shirts with a solidarity crest and the uniform shoulder flashes of emergency services across Canada are on their way to Afghanistan, McHarg said.

And 1,000 more, plus about 500 hats, will be sent in coming weeks or will be given to troops arriving home from their tour of duty.

Emergency services volunteers who packed the goods at London's central firehall on Feb. 27 were taken aback a few days later when they learned the donations had been removed from Wolseley Barracks at the request of base commander Maj. David Devries.

The shirts and hats were to be sent from Wolseley's Military Family Support Centre to Trenton for shipment abroad by the military. But Devries determined the 31 Canadian Brigade Group at Wolseley wasn't authorized to forward the goods because there was no clearance for the shipment.

All support program shipments must be approved by the director general of personnel and family support services, he said, adding there was no approval for the Hero to Hero goods.

Futhermore, operational supplies take priority on military shipments, he said, adding other goods can only be sent when space is available. Such space is extremely limited and its use requires extensive co-ordination, a DND spokesperson said.

Although that's the regulation, Wolseley had accepted and forwarded the Hero to Hero donations for the last two years, McHarg said.

"That's what caught us by surprise," he said.

McHarg said Hero to Hero goods will now be shipped from Camp Borden's Military Family Support Centre to Trenton for shipment.

"Most of the goods will probably be shipped by sea in the future," he said, adding the transit time could add up to two months.

"That will take some advance planning and co-ordination, but we can work with that to ensure troops in the field get our show of support during their six-month tours of duty."

Hero to Hero is a program for first responders to show support for troops abroad, one person in uniform to another.

McHarg started the Team Canada branch three years ago. Team Canada sent 225 shirts to troops in its first year, 1,261 last year and is sending more than 2,000 this year.

The growth of the program made it more difficult to accommodate this year's shipment, Devries has said.

Joe Matyas is a Free Press reporter.

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March/16/2009 - Sarnia Observer

continued.....

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March/7/2009 - Sarnia Observer

continued.........

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March/7/2009 - The London Free Press (Ontario)

INTERNET VERSION

Thanks, but no thanks, London base decides
By JOE MATYAS

A London military base is refusing to ship to Afghanistan morale-boosting gifts collected for Canadian troops by area police, firefighters and paramedics.

About 2,000 shirts and 500 hats boxed in London a week ago under the Hero to Hero support program have been removed from Wolseley Barracks, from where they were to be shipped, a program organizer said yesterday.

"I'm disappointed, disheartened and puzzled," said Sarnia firefighter Kevin McHarg, Canadian co-ordinator of Hero to Hero.

"We've been able to ship the goods for the past two years but we can't this time."

Simply put, the 31 Canadian Brigade Group wasn't authorized to forward the goods to Trenton for transport overseas, said Major David Devries, Wolseley base commander.

"My personnel followed our supply protocol and verified there was no clearance for the shipment," said Devries.

All support program shipments must be approved by the director general of personnel and family support services, he said, adding there was no approval for the Hero to Hero goods packed at London's central fire hall on Feb. 27.

Food, arms, ammunition, medical supplies and other provisions take precedence on shipments, said Devries.

Non-military goods are sent only on a space-available basis, he said. The situation can be salvaged by giving the shirts and hats to troops as welcome home gifts, said Devries.

But that's not the same thing, said Janice MacSwain of Sarnia, mother of combat engineer Andrew MacSwain, 28, stationed in Afghanistan.

"This speaks very closely to troop morale abroad," she said. "It's a huge boost when our soldiers get something from back home that shows people are thinking about them and care about them."

MacSwain said she hopes the military can find room for the first responders' gifts on the next available cargo plane.

"Let's just send the goods and sort out the politics later," she said.

The emergency services apparel, featuring the uniform shoulder flashes of services from across Ontario and the Hero to Hero solidarity crest, were packed by about 50 volunteer police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

They were sent to the London Military Family Resource Centre on Wolseley Barracks, for shipment.

"They asked me to remove the goods," said McHarg. "They told me the rules have changed. They said they can't accept charitable donations anymore."

McHarg said past shipments generated a great response from troops.

"We'd like to keep showing our support as long as they're over there, but I'm afraid we'll be shutting down if we can't make shipments."

McHarg said he's contacted MP Laurie Hawn (Cons. -- Edmonton Centre), parliamentary assistant to Defence Minister Peter MacKay, for help.

Joe Matyas is a Free Press reporter

JOE.MATYAS@SUNMEDIA.CA

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Feb/28/2009 - The London Free Press (Ontario)

INTERNET VERSION

Gifts go to Kandahar troops
Sat, February 28, 2009
Shirts and hats packed as part of the Hero to Hero support program.

By JOE MATYAS

First responders contribute to Hero to Hero program

London police, firefighters and EMS pack up T-shirts and hats to send to Canadian troops stationed...

Canadian troops in Afghanistan will soon feel love from Southwestern Ontario police, firefighters and paramedics.

Emergency workers, including eight from London and Middlesex County, gathered yesterday to pack about 2,000 shirts and 500 hats for shipment abroad.

The shirts and hats, featuring the uniform shoulder flashes of emergency services and the solidarity crest of the Hero to Hero support program, were boxed and taken to Wolseley Barracks in London.

Each item is accompanied by information about the sender so the soldier receiving it can reply by e-mail, said London Const. Reed Holland.

"It makes it a personal gift from one person in uniform to another," said Holland, adding it also opens communication.

Holland saluted Kevin McHarg of the Sarnia fire and rescue service, regional coordinator of Hero to Hero, for the energy he put into introducing a new wrinkle to the program.

Holland got eight emergency services to cooperate, create and produce a combined shirt featuring all eight logos.

The shoulder patches of the London police, London fire department, the RCMP, OPP, Middlesex-London EMS, Fanshawe College and University of Western Ontario police, and the London International Airport fire and rescue service are displayed on the shirts.

On the front is the Hero to Hero crest, featuring the Canadian and U.S. flags and the motto United We Stand.

The program to rally support from first responders for troops abroad was started in the U.S. about five years ago by Liz Jackson, a woman from Tacoma, Wash., whose cousin was killed in Iraq.

McHarg started the Team Canada branch to support Canadian troops -- fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan -- three years ago, after meeting Jackson.

"This isn't about politics," said McHarg, at London's central fire hall where about 40 first responders gathered to pack the shipment. "It isn't about whether you support the war or don't support the war. We're just letting our troops know we care."

The public had forgotten about the sacrifices of Canada's military "until we started losing guys in Afghanistan," he said, adding "it woke us all up and we're going to keep doing this while they're over there."

McHarg said Team Canada sent 226 shirts over two years ago and 1,261 last year. He said this year's tally shows growing support for the troops.

London fire Chief John Kobarda said it's important to show the troops we care because "sometimes they wonder why they're over there."

Troops don't pick their battles and neither do police officers or firefighters, said London police Chief Murray Faulkner. "We have that in common . . . even though we wear different uniforms with different flashes, emergency services are emergency services."

Eighteen members of the London police force are reservists, he said.

Joe Matyas is a Free Press reporter.

JOE.MATYAS@SUNMEDIA.CA

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Fall 2008 - Royal Canadian Mounted Police Magazine " The Quarterly"

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Summer 2008 - IAFF Canadian Journal

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OPFFA INTREPID MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2008

Normally your S/T would write about the state of the budget
and how we are progressing through the fiscal year regarding the
direction given from the convention floor. However, and with
your indulgence, that will come in later editions. Right now, I would
like to speak to two other matters if I may.
First is the “Hero to Hero” campaign which visited our
convention. This program is very simple – we take the duty shirts
off our backs and arrange for them to be presented to our
Forces personnel abroad. That’s it! As an added feature, you are
encouraged to write a message of encouragement to the individual
receiving the shirt. It has absolutely nothing to do with a cause
or any other spin-off issue one could dream up – it is simply a
message of support for the individuals abroad. I would encourage
each Local to engage in the program. On this note, while traveling
to Collingwood via in part on the 401; we noticed the gathering
masses of fire vehicles and people dressed in red on the various
overpasses, along the roadside, and on the shoulders of the
highway as the entourage of vehicles, escorting yet another Armed
Forces Hero, sped by. It would be a lie if I were to say it did not stir
emotion as the motorcade passed. I would like to thank every fire
fighter and every department that participates to honour our fallen
in this matter. It is an honour to which I am confident the family
members do not forget.
Now, from speaking about true heroes to speaking about one of
the lowest forms of life imaginable; the low life piece of wasted skin
that defaced our Memorial. Whatever reason this individual had
against us and against our heroes being enshrined in granite on
those walls; they should have at least had enough intestinal fortitude
to come at the organization and not our fallen. There are many
words that I would use to describe this coward that perpetrated this
injustice but they would not pass the editor’seraser, so I will not put
pen to paper. What I would like to say is, the amount of hurt you have
inflicted upon our families of the fallen will never be forgotten, nor
will it fade with time. They will find you, trust me. Someone within
the ranks of the weasels you run through the sewers with will rat you
out as the coward you are – and when they do, may God have mercy
on you, but not the courtsystem.
Those present at the 11th Annual Convention in Collingwood
unanimously adopted a resolution to have the walls of our
Memorial restored and/or rebuilt to its original state. We will need
you, the membership, to supportus with this fundraising event. We
must not flinch at this call for action – we are honouring the
bravest of the bravest – our fallen brother and sister firefighters.
Take care and stay safe…
Barry Quinn, OPFFASecretary-Treasurer

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December/1/2008 - Tillsonburg News (Ontario)

Hero to Hero program pays tribute to troops

By Nancy Boutin

Staff Writer

The Tillsonburg News

Tammy Gould will do anything to honour our troops overseas – even giving them the shirt off her back.

Gould recently got involved with Hero to Hero, a program designed to allow hometown heroes like police, fire and other emergency services personnel to pay tribute to a different kind of hero - troops deployed overseas.

In a nutshell, Hero to Hero involves first-responder personnel literally giving the troops the shirts off their backs.

New or like-new shirts featuring the logo of the local police, fire or EMS branch are collected, personal messages written on each one, and the shirts are then shipped to troops deployed overseas.

Though it originated in the US, Hero to Hero expanded to Canada four years ago.

Gould, however, stumbled upon Hero to Hero by accident while surfing the net looking for a way to help.

“I’ve known for the last few years that I wanted to do something (for the troops),” said Gould. “And this year I was searching online and found Hero to Hero.”

For Gould, who had a 28-year history as a police, fire and ambulance dispatcher, the program was not only a good fit, but a good way to make a difference.

Gould began canvassing and collecting shirts, and while she was met with support and positive response, she still wanted to take her involvement one step further.

She began e-mailing with Kevin McHarg, who co-ordinates the program in Canada, and one day broached the topic of volunteering to take pictures of the troops’ family members to send overseas.

“Talking with Kevin about Hero to Hero, I realized this was my opportunity,” said Gould. “I told him I had a part-time photography business and I wanted to volunteer to take photos of local military families whose sons, daughters, fathers, mothers etc. were deployed overseas. He said he'd get the info for me.”

Within a matter of days, Gould was connected with Beverly Robbins, the program co-ordinator at Wollsley Barracks in London, who thought the idea was a good one, and helped make the arrangements for Gould to come to London and take pictures.

As good ideas have the tendency to do, however, Gould’s idea spread. Robbins contacted Gould and asked her if she’d be willing to take similar photos at other local resource centres including Cambridge, Hamilton and Windsor.

Gould jumped at the opportunity, and said taking the pictures has profoundly and deeply affected her.

“I see the looks and smiles and wonderful expressions on my clients’ faces as they go through the photos I have taken for them. I can only imagine how happy a soldier would be to get photos of loved ones at home, especially at Christmas time.”

Gould said she takes between 20 and 30 shots for each family, of spouses, children, relatives and even pets. She then whittles the shots down to the best eight to 20 frames, prints these as four-by-six-inch prints, and returns them to the families who send the pictures on to their loved ones.

She does it all free of charge.

Though it only takes a few hours of her time, Gould said the feeling of satisfaction she gets from knowing the soldiers overseas will have a bit of their loved ones to carry with them this holiday season is overwhelming.

And the troops’ families are overwhelmed, too. Gould recalled one woman who embraced her and thanked her for what she was doing. The woman then hugged her a second time to say thank-you on behalf of her husband, who is stationed in the Middle East.

Another family, so pleased with Gould’s generosity, baked her a tin of cookies. Others tear up when they thank her.

“I said to Kevin that taking these photos is actually very selfish because it makes me feel so good,” said Gould. “It’s my natural high, really.”

Gould said she will likely continue to take the pictures annually as a way to help out, and while Hero to Hero is designed specifically for those in the emergency services field, she urged members of the general public to do their part by taking the time to write to a member of the Canadian forces.

To write to someone deployed overseas, use the following address - http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Community/Messageboard/index_e.asp - and click on the Mail for Any Canadian Forces Member link.

To learn more about Hero to Hero and Canada’s role in it, check out www.herotohero.us and click on the Team Canada link at the left.

“This is such a good cause,” said Gould. “The troops need to know we haven't forgotten them.”

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Nov/17/2008 - Sarnia Observer - letter to the Editor

Nov/17/2008 - Sarnia This Week

Sept/17/2008 - Sarnia This Week

September 2008 - Peacekeeper Park Newsletter

June/16/2008 - General Dynamics Land Systems Newsletter - Lines of Defense - Page # 2

June/16/2008 - General Dynamics Land Systems Newsletter - Lines of Defense - Page #1 - London Ontario

June/12/2008 - The Hamilton Spectator

Summer 2008 - OPFFA website

Summer 2008 - OPFFA Intrepid Magazine

To see above following story c/wcolour pictues click here... www.opffa.org/enter.php#top

HERO TO HERO CAMPAIGN COLLECTS 300+ SHIRTS FROM OPFFA

The last group of speakers on Tuesday June 10th left quite an impression on everyone. The delegation from the Hero to Hero Campaign were present to speak about the campaign to have Police and Fire Fighters give the shirts off their backs for our military personnel. They collected approximately 300 shirts from across Ontario which was presented to them by the convention delegates. This combined with the shirts collected by the Toronto local earlier in the day brought the campaign half way to their goal of 2,000 shirts. Liz Jackson who represented the delegation gave a unique address by illustrating a US Rangers tradition for those giving speeches. The person gives their address with one had in a bucket of ice water and they can only speak as long as they can leave their hand in the water.

An autographed US army shirt was presented to President LeBlanc along with a limited edition of the Director’s pin from the Hero to Hero campaign

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Summer 2008- Intrepid Magazine - Ontario Professional Firefighters Association (OPFFA)