Monday 4 June 2007

June 3, 2007 Canadian Forces Day

Happy Canadian Forces Day!

We are all familiar with and most of us celebrate in some form or another Canada Day July 1, but how many people are celebrating Canadian Forces Day today?

Created by the government in 2002, Canadian Forces Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in June. It's a fabulous opportunity for all of us to show our gratitude to the courageous men and women of the Canadian Forces who selflessly and bravely serve all Canadians at home and abroad.

A statistic taken from the Canadian National Defence website states that our Canadian Forces consist of 62,000 regular force (full-time) members, 24,500 members in the primary reserves and approximately 4,000 Canadian Rangers. Since that fateful day of Sept.11, 2001, more than 16,000 Canadian force members; sailors, soldiers and air personnel have actively participated in the ongoing campaign against terrorism.

While the top priority of our Forces is to protect Canadians and our national interests, they also act in a variety of capacities both here in Canada and throughout the world. Such duties could include performing search & rescue operations, providing assistance during natural disasters or promoting freedom, democracy and the rule of law and human rights such as in Afghanistan. Approximately 2,500 Canadian Forces members are currently deployed in Afghanistan. These CF members are serving as members of a multi-national brigade and reconstruction team in Kandahar and also a strategic advisory team supporting the government in Kabul. Everyday these members must bravely fulfill their assigned duties often in the face of grave adversity and in potentially life threatening situations. This is not a job for the faint of heart and should be
acknowledged, supported and respected.

Every single day, thousands of CF members are preparing to leave behind family and friends. The immense stress for CF members and their families must be unbelievable. Can you imagine saying goodbye to your loved ones with the acute knowledge that it could be your last goodbye or your last chance to hold them? Unless you're a police officer or firefighter or have some other type of hazardous job, not many people face that kind of emotion when they leave for work in the morning. Not to mention all the family events they miss; the births, deaths, anniversaries, first steps, first words and graduations, etc., that they will now have to experience often from a world away, through email, or phone calls. Thousands of CF members are currently deployed and thousands more are preparing to return home. The homecomings can be heartwarming or potentially heartbreaking. Once again, not a job for the faint of heart.

Although the Canadian presence in Afghanistan is the most high profile of the CF's missions, the Forces also have many members deployed as part of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in Sri Lanka, as well as the Sinai Region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The variety and scope of the missions the Forces perform is impressive. Since 1947, Canadian Forces have participated in 72 international missions.

So how can we as Canadians show our immense gratitude and appreciation to these incredible men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our country? Here are a few simple ideas on how everyone can celebrate Canadian Forces Day.

1) Post a message to the Troops

How many of us think nothing of spending hours each day on e-mails or chatting on MSN? We think nothing of jotting a quick e-mail to friends and family to say hello or share news. Want to send an email that will make a difference to someone who's making a difference in our lives? Why not take a moment out of your day to post a message to the troops? We all know how good it feels to be personally acknowledge for a job well done and what a job they're doing! Let them know how grateful we are for their bravely and sacrifices. The website is www.forces.gc.ca and after selecting either English or French there is an icon to write to the troops.

2) Wear RED on Fridays

Such a simple gesture but one that means the world to so many. Many of us already participate in work sponsored dress-down days on Fridays. For a small fee (which is often donated to a specific charity) staff get to relax the dress code a bit and support a great cause at the same time. Why not make it a point to wear red on Fridays and also support our CF members? Imagine how heartwarming this simple gesture would appear not only to our local CF members but also to those whose loved one is away dutifully serving our country? Locally, official Support our Troops t-shirts can be obtained at the Thunder Bay Military Family Resource Centre for the very affordable price of $15. They come in a variety of sizes and the proceeds go toward programs that support the families of our troops. Car magnets, yellow ribbons and small yellow lapel pins are also available. The Thunder Bay Military Family Resource Centre is located at 125 N.Algoma Street inside the HMCS Griffon building and is on the third floor. Hours are 9:00-3:00 Mon-Fri and more info can be obtained by calling 345-5116.

3) Organize a community BBQ, picnic or street party

Want a good reason to have a good time? Organize a special event in honour of our troops. There are many local families whose loved ones are away serving our country, why not plan a party in honour of their service? The sacrifices make be CF members are also acutely felt by the families left behind. Show them your support and gratitude for their loved one?s dedication to our country by having an event for them.

These are just a few ideas of how we can all celebrate Canadian Forces Day. If you're interested in recruitment information or other ways to support our troops try logging on to the National Defence and Canadian Forces website at www.forces.gc.ca .

So, have a wonderful Canadian Forces Day and remember to wear your red shirt proudly on Fridays - I know I will be.

Noreen Dafoe, Library Assistant

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