TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 Volume 61, #20
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 Volume 61, #20 Cpl Boucher-Cookson and Avr Lepine, members of 19 Operations Support Squadron (OSS) Telecom Flight, were selected to represent 19 Wing Comox in Operation DISTINCTION, a national commemoration program that began in 2012. The pair stood guard at the National War Memorial, a cenotaph symbolizing the sacrifice of all CAF personnel who have served Canada in time of war in the cause of peace and freedom, past, pres- ent and future. In 2000, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in the front of the memorial. The tomb contains the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier from a war cemetery near Vimy Ridge, France. CAF members have been guarding the site since 2007. Cpl Boucher-Cookson and Avr Lepine were quickly integrated in the honor guard team, keeping a watchful eye on the monument from September 9 to October 21. 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Kitchen features stainless Fax: 250-334-1901 living room and family room. The kitchen looks 250-334-7460 steel appliances, quartz countertops and a www.royallepagecomoxvalley.com over the backyard, has a large island, a pantry dark maple island for cooking and entertaining. Email: [email protected] and all appliances included. $650,000 www.royallepage.ca/id/454172 $535,000 www.royallepage.ca/id/462376 2 | NOVEMBER 5, 2019 | TOTEM TIMES Totem Reflections from a service family TIMES Once accepted by recruiting, Lt(N) Chris Donnelly the paratrooper shared his ex- |19 WING COMOX CHAPLAIN | periences because he wanted me to understand the context of At this time of year, I always my minister to men and women think about what I am doing in called to act against their natural service to Canada, and that leads inclination on behalf of Canada to remember those who have in- and freedom in the world. fluenced my life. What an honour to hear his and As a minister there are many other stories. who have supported me over It would be many years later, af- the years, but the calling to be a ter several deployments, domes- Chaplain started long before that. tic operations and exercises, that MANAGING EDITOR It is with great pride that I recall I could finally understand what Camille Douglas stories about my mom’s biologi- they sacrificed and why they took 250-339-8211, ext 8752 cal father - Grandpa Finch, who such pride in preparing me for my [email protected] served in WWII, her step-father - time of service. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Grandpa Beecroft, who served in Meaning of Gillian Ottaway WWII, and her younger brother Remembrance Day - Greg Beecroft. They all served Remembrance Day means dif- EDITORIAL ADVISOR the Royal Canadian Navy. ferent things to different people. Capt Brad Little So when I answered the call My hope is that as you join oth- DISTRIBUTION to serve, my only request was to ers for events leading up to No- Michael Pearce wear the Navy uniform in their vember 11, you wear your poppy honour. I knew nothing about the in support. You think about why CAF, DND or the Royal Cana- you serve. You honour friends and dian Chaplain Service. family who have served, or are A Division of Personnel My father was a teacher and currently serving. That together Support Programs mother was a book-keeper. we can do our part to show uni- 19 Wing Comox, Neither grandfather talked fied support for the work of all PO Box 1000 Stn. Main, with me about their service time involved with the CAF - past Lazo, BC V0R 2K0 experiences. It was only later, and present - along with DND [email protected] after I told my parents about employees who equip us daily wanting to join the CAF, that my for service. mother shared with me pictures We are only strong together. and some stories. My uncle died Alone we are ineffective. Never a few years before I joined, and forget that. I can say that he was influential As a Chaplain and part of the in my decision, but in no way overall care team at 19 Wing encouraged me because Navy Comox, I also pray that if you or life was not easy. someone you know needs help The decision assistance, you will encourage to serve them to reach out. Help is only a Leading up to the decision, I request away. volunteered as a Legion Chaplain Remember we are not alone. for Branch 121 in Beaverlodge, We are never alone, but a family. Alberta. Through that experience Comrade to Comrade. I was encourage by veterans to November - especially No- consider the chaplaincy. Three vember 11 - no military member, members of my congregation – a active or retired, should ever feel helicopter pilot, tank operator and alone. paratrooper - also encouraged me. “We will remember them.” The Totem Times is an unoffi- cial publication of 19 Wing Co- mox, BC. The Editor reserves the right to edit copy and re- ject advertisements to suit the needs of the publication. Views expressed are those of the contributor unless express- ly attributed to DND, CAF, or other agencies. In case of ty- pographical errors, no goods may be sold and the difference claimed against this paper. The paper’s liability is limited to a refund of the space charged for the erroneous item. Mate- rial may be reprinted with at- tribution. Published 22 times a year, every second Tuesday, with permission of Col Dany Poitras, 19 Wing Commander. Publications Mail Registration No.4098. Printed by Ladysmith Press, Ladysmith, BC. Circula- tion: 1800. NOVEMBER 5, 2019 | TOTEM TIMES | 3 RCAF: Protecting the skies since 1914 Remembrance Day often draws to mind grainy vid- eos of soldiers in bunkers, crossing open fields while dodging flying bullets, and devastating mortar explo- A flypast at Vimy Ridge during a dedication ceremony in 1936. sions. This was the reality for over 425,000 Canadians destroyed; William Barker, tained. At its peak, the Present day who served overseas with a fighter pilot born in Dau- BCATP maintained 231 More recent in history 眀愀礀瀀漀椀渀琀椀渀猀甀爀愀渀挀攀⸀挀愀 the Canadian Expeditionary phin, Manitoba, is one of training sites, 10,000 air- would be the Afghanistan Force during WWI. the most highly decorated craft, and had 100,000 mili- conflict, which had an im- The invention of the air- Canadians of all time be- tary personnel to administer portant RCAF presence. plane, though, meant that cause of his performance the program. We trained Between 2008 and 2011, war was no longer fought in the “war to end all wars”. pilots, navigators, bomb the Canadian Air Wing solely in the trenches and Other Canadian pilots, such aimers, radio operators, air was 450 members strong across the fields; perhaps as Raymond Collishaw gunners and flight engi- and served out of Kan- witnessed for the first time and AA McLeod, became neers, pumping out 131,533 dahar, Afghanistan. They during WWI, then more household names due to graduates, half of whom provided air power and prevalent as aviation tech- their aerial accomplish- were Canadian. support to the ground nology and understanding ments. It has been argued that troops, along with other advanced, there was anoth- Continuing the BCATP is one of the duties, but their most pub- er war that happened con- commitment greatest Canadian contribu- licized role was facilitat- currently, and it was fought Our contribution to the tions to the Allied victory ing the repatriation of our in the air. skies of war continued dur- of WWII. In total, over one fallen members back to Joining the ing WWII. million people served full- Canadian soil. Royal Air Force When we joined Britain time in the armed forces While the RCAF is rela- In 1914, when Britain de- and France in committing to during WWII, with 250,000 tively new, being only 95 clared war - and obligated the fight against Germany in coming from the RCAF. years old, its members the small British colony September of 1939, our air Korean War have been contributing called Canada to fight by force was in its infancy – a The effectiveness of the to the defence of Canada proxy - Canada did not have mere 15 years old, in fact - RCAF was called upon dur- and its allies since before an established air force. Yet and had been used primarily ing the Korean War, as well. it was even an entity. we managed to contribute for civilian purposes, such In July of 1950, the Between the dog fights immensely to the air war as aerial mapping and for- RCAF committed No 426 that were ubiquitous in al- that became an integral ele- estry protection.