A Remembrance Day Tribute to Sgt C. Gilliam

A Remembrance Day Tribute to Sgt C. Gilliam

I've been on the West Coast of NL this past week conducting staff visits to a number of Army Cadet Corps and had the pleasure today to spend 11 Nov with one of our Corps who were participating in a Church and Cemetery Service at South Branch, NL in remembrance of Sgt Craig Gillam who was KIA 3 Oct 06 in Afghaistan. This cadet corps with no affilliation to the RCD, adopted Craig a local boy, shortly after his internment in 06. They even participated in the repat and interment ceremony in Oct 06. The church service was superb and moving with the cadets providing a vigil, a wreath laying, serveral readings and culminating with poppies being placed on a [styrofoam] cross. There were family members present including Craig's son who is now schooling at Port-aux-Basque. After the church service the Cadet Corps marched approx a km to the cemetery followed by the Gillam family carrying wreaths and a portrait of Craig and a small motorcade. At Craigs gravesite another wreath laying ceremony took place and the corps RSM played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. Following the grave site ceremony and reception the corps bussed to Craig's boyhood home where he grew up and was reared by his aunts. I accompanied the cadets and met with other members of Craig's family. I've attached a photo. I think this is superb showing for of a "Royal Newfoundland Regiment" Army Cadet Corps who has adopted a "Dragoon" local boy. I will be sending this sitrep and other photos to the regiment by other means once I return to St. John's next week.

It's a Great Day to be a Dragoon

Regards

Thomas Skelding

(Senior Serving Dragoon Newfoundland & Labrador)