Caring Through Crisis Capt Lisa Klčo
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TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 VOLUME 62, #9 Op LASER 19 WING COMOX UPDATE EDITIONTUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 Volume 61, #22 Frank Soos Capt Lisa Klčo Caring through crisis |MENTAL HEALTH TEAM LEADER, 21 CF H SVS C| There is no linear way to move through a glob- tional reserves all affect how we manage. can be a reprieve, they may not be the same al pandemic, as each of us copes with stress CAF communities are no strangers to stress, as the warmth of a hug from a loved one, or a differently. and are often asked to work through discom- social event, or a dinner out. Some have found reprieve in the healing fort at the most challenging of times. Families There is no right way to survive. break, taking time to connect more deeply with routinely experience isolation, separation and For many of us, sometimes the best thing we things they value. Others have been stressed distance from loved ones. We learn to limit the can do is accept we are doing our best. to the max both financially, emotionally, or oth- transmission of information so that it does not Although this pandemic is unprecedented in erwise. overwhelm us, or those around us. many ways, our valuable experience remains As our systems become overwhelmed with the In many regards, this may be familiar. We can as applicable as ever. We have learned to rely growing uncertainty, things become harder, and rely on this experience to guide us through this on each other to get through many tough sit- we may find an increase in distress. This will, time of uncertainty and that may be reassuring. uations. in effect, make physical distancing that much Equally, this crisis has presented new chal- We intrinsically know how to muster immense more challenging, as human beings are hard- lenges as our usual supports are not available. courage during times of stress. We are often wired to belong to a group. We have not been able to get out and enjoy our an example of leadership, or strength, or cour- We as a CAF community have not been im- coffee connections, or dates at the park. age to face uncertainty and in this, and we will mune to these challenges, but may be in the We follow the best advice from the CDC by eat- come out stronger. front lines, helping to care for others during this ing healthy, going out for exercise, maintaining If anyone you know is struggling and needs high stress period. our routine, or connecting with friends over the support, please contact your local mental health There are a lot of factors that will influence how phone or social media. team at 250-339-8211. We have services avail- each of us manages stress. Our backgrounds, It’s okay if this still does not feel like it’s able for members, as well as local community- our training, our supports, and our overall emo- enough. As much as these digital connections based resources. 2 Op LASER UPDATE EDITION TOTEM TIMES | MAY 5, 2020 Mike Kaehler Battle of the Atlantic 75th anniversary commemorated on May 3 with flypast by 407 Sqn The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous battle of the Sec- La bataille de l'Atlantique a été la plus longue bataille continue de la ond World War, spanning from 1939 to 1945, and one in which Canada Seconde Guerre mondiale, de 1939 à 1945, et celle dans laquelle le Can- played a central role. ada a joué un rôle central. Our flight today is dedicated to the Battle of the Atlantic, and to our Notre vol d'aujourd'hui est consacré à la bataille de l'Atlantique et à nos brothers and sisters in arms in the Royal Canadian Navy, both here in frères et soeurs d'armes de la Marine royale du Canada, tant ici au Can- Canada, and abroad on operations. ada qu'à l'étranger dans le cadre d'opérations. At the time, 407 Squadron was flying Vickers Wellington long-range À l'époque, le 407e Escadron pilotait des bombardiers à long rayon bombers – the ancestors of our CP-140 Aurora, and our task was to pro- d'action Vickers Wellington - les ancêtres de nos CP-140 Aurora, et notre tect Allied shipping lanes. tâche consistait à protéger les voies de navigation alliées. Today, we pay our respect to those who died in the Battle of the At- Aujourd'hui, nous rendons hommage à ceux qui sont morts dans la ba- lantic: members of the RCAF and of the Royal Canadian Navy, and the taille de l'Atlantique : les membres de l'ARC et de la Marine royale cana- merchant navy. dienne, ainsi que de la marine marchande. Our thoughts are also with HMCS Fredericton’s ships company, 423 Nos pensées vont également à la compagnie navale du NCSM Frederic- Maritime Helicopter Squadron, along with their families and friends who ton, le 423e Escadron d'hélicoptères maritimes, ainsi qu'à leurs familles suffered the recent loss of a crew aboard a CH-148 Cyclone, call sign et amis qui ont subi la perte récente d'un équipage à bord d'un CH-148 “Stalker”. Cyclone, indicatif d'appel "Stalker". On behalf of 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron and 19 Wing Comox, Au nom du 407e Escadron de patrouille à long rayon d'action et de la we salute you. 19e Escadre Comox, nous vous saluons. A Division of Personnel Support Programs 19 Wing Comox, PO Box 1000 Stn. Main,Lazo, BC V0R 2K0 [email protected] 250-339-8211, ext 8752 MANAGING EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER EDITORIAL ADVISOR 19 WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS Camille Douglas Gillian Ottaway Capt Brad Little Lt Alexandra Hejduk [email protected] The Totem Times is an unofficial publication of 19 Wing Comox, BC. The Editor reserves the right to edit copy and reject advertisements to suit the needs of the publication. Views expressed are those of the contributor unless expressly attributed to DND, CAF, or other agencies. In case of typographical 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. Material may be reprinted with attribution. 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. Circulation: 1800. Note to readers: Volume 62, Number 8 was not published on April 21, 2020 due to coronavirus. KRYSTAL PARSONS MORTGAGE SPECIALIST 250.897.2756 [email protected] canex.ca 1625 Military Way, Lazo, BC 250.339.5553 2 3 TOTEM TIMES | MAY 5, 2020 Op LASER UPDATE EDITION TOTEM TIMES | MAY 5, 2020 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands Tulips planted by City of Courtenay Some very special tulip bulbs commemorating a historic milestone are blooming in Courtenay. The beautiful red ‘Canadian Liberator’ tulip bulbs celebrate the 75th An- niversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and VE Day (Victory in Eu- rope) on May 5, 1945, as well as honour the 1.1 million Canadians who served during the Second World War. Approximately 1,000 bulbs were planted at Simms Park, the Native Sons Hall, and the Courtenay Legion by City of Courtenay staff and members of the Courtenay Legion prior to the coronavirus pandemic. The tulip has become a symbol of friendship between the Netherlands and Canada. Liberation75 celebrates the shared history between the two countries and the role that Canadian soldiers played in liberating the Netherlands. As part of the initiative, over 1.1 million bulbs were planted at schools across Canada. Many of these special bulbs were also planted in home gardens across Canada. While a planned candlelight tribute for this momentous event has been cancelled due to COVID-19, the Legion encourages everyone to remem- ber this occasion by visiting the local tulip displays while maintaining ap- propriate physical distancing. A grandfather liberated: a special contribution by Emma Gerritse, as translated by her father In the Netherlands, Liberation Day is celebrated each year on May 5 to At the end of the war there was a Jewish per- thanks to the good preparation of Master Hof, mark the end of the occupation by son in hiding in the house of Ale Poepjes: Bob and later went on to study in Delft and became Nazi Germany during World War II. Gerritse. an engineer. In June 2019 Capt (ret’d) Patrick He was 12 years old and went to primary school Bob’s parents and a sister survived the war. Penley, 19 Wing Karate Club Sensei, attendeding Master Hof’s class, where he received His other sister was transported to Sobibor and was in Nijmegen, Netherlands, teach- a separate curriculum. Hardly anybody in the vil- killed there with her husband. Bob still keeps good ing a karate seminar. The Dutch host- lage except Master Hof knew that Bob was a Jew- memories of his time in Nijetrijne. ing karate club sensei arranged for a ish person in hiding. The fiancés of the daugh- visit to the WWII Canadian cemetery ters, who regularly visited the Poepjes house, did at Groesbeek. not know that either. Jan Visser (left), and Bob “As I walked among the rows of fine- Bob’s father was a butcher and when Jews were Gerritse (second from left). ly manicured graves of such young forced to report, the decision was taken to go lives sacrificed during the conflict into hiding. The whole family was too big to stay and liberation of the Netherlands, I together and so it happened that Bob had been was overcome with an overwhelm- hiding at several addresses from the beginning ing sense of sadness,” shared Sen- of the war.