To Dragoons everywhere.
It was a great honour to once again preside over the Leliefontein ceremonies
in Petawawa this week-end and to see the regiment doing so well.
The weather was tremendous and we opened Dragoon Park which we hope will
display all the vehicles that Dragoons have used since our switch from the
horse. We have a Sherman, Centurion, Leopards C1 and C2, and are in search
of our WW2 and other mounts in various locations. As well we are looking for
the helicopters on which many served during the Cold War.
We announced the Leliefontein and the bursary awards and paid tribute to the
service of D squadron in Afghanistan who themselves were recognized in
Saturday's edition of the Ottawa Citizen with a full page spread of their
escort work on the dangerous 16 hour convoy route from Kabul to Kandahar.
The article by Matthew Fisher was called:"The road to Kandahar requires
nerves of steel -- and big guns" "The U.S. government paved Highway 1 two
years ago, but the journey is still bumpy with dangers of bombs, ambush, and
erratic drivers" writes Matthew Fisher in Kandahar.
My best wishes to LCol Lowell Thomas, RSM Denis Levesque, Major Andrew
Atherton and all Dragoons serving overseas. The traditions of service before
self and courage that were so well begun by Lts Turner and Cockburn and Sgt
Holland are carried out today by Dragoons in Afghanistan as they have been
so well throughout our entire history.
My personal thanks go out to Major Jim Folwell, the Acting CO, and to MWO
Head, our Acting RSM, for putting on a show at home of which all were very
proud. A special thanks to MGen Walt and Leslie Natynczyk for being present
as our Senior Serving Dragoon.
It was and remains always a Great Day to be a Dragoon!
Bold and Swift!
Colonel of The Regiment
The Royal Canadian Dragoons
61 Drummond Street East
Perth, ON
K7H 1G3
(613)264-8038
Cell (613)878-2310