Afghanistan Memorial Monument
On 20 August this year the Afghanistan Memorial Monument was unveiled with ceremony at its new home beside Tank park. All of 2CMBG and Base units were represented on parade with guard units and our own Maj Auld as Ceremony Officer Commanding. The monument is made of granite in the shape of a maple leaf with the names of the fallen etched on its front. A contest had been held and the Afghanistan Memorial Monument was based on the winning design by Dr. Mike Crouzat, a civilian medical officer who has been working at CFB Petawawa for over a decade. After it’s unveiling, the names of the fallen were read aloud by soldiers of CFB Petawawa and the dragoons were well represented by MCpl Robert Shaw. A moment of silence followed the reading of names and in turn was followed by a piper’s playing of amazing grace.
The focus then shifted from the recognition of our fallen to the recognition of our wounded soldiers with the presentation of sacrifice medals. Brig Gen Lewis, Comd LFCA first spoke to the concept and realization of the sacrifice medal and the inadequacy of the wound stripe. He recalled visiting a wounded soldier in theatre, presenting the wound stripe there and how he felt it fell short of the prominent formal recognition deserved. It was here and now that he was able to properly present the sacrifice medal, aided by Brigade Command team of Col W.D. Eyre and CWO M.L. Baisley. MCpl Fraser Watt, WO Keith Skinner, Cpl Jeffrey Hunter, Cpl David Harison, Trooper Rich Bride, Cpl Jordan Abraham, Carol and Bob Mitchell (parents) in memory of Cpl. Robert Mitchell, Carolyn Wilson in memory of Trooper Mark Wilson, Sandra Good (wife) in honour of Trooper Brian Good were the dragoons and their families who received their sacrifice medals. With many of our soldiers having just returned and now heavily involved in career courses and other training, the RCD Honour Guard consisted of many young troopers and the impact of the ceremony upon them was plain to see. As it ended, the ceremony had achieved its aim of being a dignified and having honoured the sacrifices of our soldiers.
The focus then shifted from the recognition of our fallen to the recognition of our wounded soldiers with the presentation of sacrifice medals. Brig Gen Lewis, Comd LFCA first spoke to the concept and realization of the sacrifice medal and the inadequacy of the wound stripe. He recalled visiting a wounded soldier in theatre, presenting the wound stripe there and how he felt it fell short of the prominent formal recognition deserved. It was here and now that he was able to properly present the sacrifice medal, aided by Brigade Command team of Col W.D. Eyre and CWO M.L. Baisley. MCpl Fraser Watt, WO Keith Skinner, Cpl Jeffrey Hunter, Cpl David Harison, Trooper Rich Bride, Cpl Jordan Abraham, Carol and Bob Mitchell (parents) in memory of Cpl. Robert Mitchell, Carolyn Wilson in memory of Trooper Mark Wilson, Sandra Good (wife) in honour of Trooper Brian Good were the dragoons and their families who received their sacrifice medals. With many of our soldiers having just returned and now heavily involved in career courses and other training, the RCD Honour Guard consisted of many young troopers and the impact of the ceremony upon them was plain to see. As it ended, the ceremony had achieved its aim of being a dignified and having honoured the sacrifices of our soldiers.
Sandra Good accepts the Sacrifice Medal in honour of her husband Trooper Brian Good
Copyright 2010 Royal Canadian Dragoons, All Rights Reserved
