Dear Editor:
As a retired service member of 24 years, I know the need for our troops. Some think that we are all about war but this is far from the truth. I myself served four years in Germany and had three rotations in Bosnia. In Bosnia we ensured the peace remained, as well as supporting orphanages, rebuilding schools and helping families in need. Much the same is being done in Afghanistan today.
I put together a sled to show support for our troops-to thank them for their hard work and sacrifice they have to endure over the years. My son will eventually take his turn overseas so I know what it is like to be deployed and how the families of those deployed now feel.
Remember that this is not a show of support to the government but to our men and women serving in all branches of the Canadian Forces.
As I said above, I served for 24 years. I started off in the Armoured Corp. on Jan. 1, 1983 and transferred to the Air Force in 1991.
I served with the Lord Strathconas, Royal Canadian Dragoons, 8th Canadian Hussars, 19 Wing Comox, 407 Sqn. and 427 Sqn, which changed to 427 SOASSqn before I was released from the Service.
I was posted to Calgary, AB; Lahr, West Germany; Gagetown, NB; Comox, BC; and finally 427 SOAS. My son is now serving as an AVN Tech. in Trenton, ON.