Dan Aykroyd Wines sends free wine to the troops!

[The Bread Guy]

This from CBC.ca, shared in accordance with the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright  Act:

Canadian military members at the Kandahar Airfield who prefer a Pinot over a pilsner can now raise a glass with their beer-drinking buddies for free.

Each month, Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are allowed two drinks.

The beer comes at no cost thanks to donations from breweries, whereas a half bottle of wine goes for $9.

But to Lt.-Col. Doug Johnson, that inequity was unpalatable.

And after he arrived in theatre in November, Johnson discovered something even worse — the wine wasn't Canadian.

The resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., a town renowned for its grapes, began reaching out to some wineries he knew in the hope they would donate vino.

His request was rejected, but he didn't relent.

In April, he emailed Dan Aykroyd Wines, owned by the comedian-actor, and within weeks, hundreds of bottles of Pinot Noir and Riesling were being shipped to the Kandahar Airfield.

Johnson says Canadians in Afghanistan consume about 82 bottles of wine per month.

Aykroyd's winery is donating about 110 bottles per month, but Johnson believes there will be no trouble going through that because it's free.

Way to go Dan Aykroyd Wines!

 

[PMedMoe]

Good for them!

 

[Xcalibar]

That was very nice of him.

If there is one thing Dan Ackroyd knows, it's spirits.

 

[ModlrMike]

That was very nice of him.

If there is one thing Dan Ackroyd knows, it's spirits.

Nice Ghostbusters reference!

 

[jollyjacktar]

Dan is the Man!  Just wish it had of come during my tour.  Luck stiffs.

 

[my72jeep]

Dan is a big supporter of any one in uniform. I think he is also a sheriff's deputy in at least two states.

 

[The Bread Guy]

...on Dan's donation:

Canadian soldiers and officers at Kandahar Airfield who prefer Pinot Noir to pilsner can now raise a glass with their beer-drinking buddies without having to pay for the privilege.

Each month, Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are allowed two drinks per month. The beer comes at no cost, thanks to donations from breweries, but a half-bottle of vino costs $9.

That inequity has long left Lt.-Col. Doug Johnson with a bad taste in his mouth.

"It didn't seem fair to me that if you wanted to drink wine you had to pay for it, and if you had beer it was free," said Johnson, a resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. — one of Canada's best-known and most prolific wine-producing regions.

Upon arriving in theatre in November, Johnson discovered something worse: the wine wasn't Canadian. So he began reaching out to wineries in and around his hometown in hopes of securing some donations for fellow troops who might opt for grape over grain ....

 

[harry8422]

Thank you Dan we love you

 

[stealthylizard]

Each month, Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are allowed two drinks.

Not in my location.  2 beer on Christmas Eve, and 2 beer New Year's Eve.  Regimental Day wasn't even acknowledged.

 

[Towards_the_gap]

Hmm...where I am I'm lucky to get fresh food........good thing all those in KAF can have a drink. They need it........ :

 

[vonGarvin]

Hmm...where I am I'm lucky to get fresh food........good thing all those in KAF can have a drink. They need it........ :

Ah, yes, this is rather refreshing.  "KAFITE" vs "OTW", the "real" soldiers, and all that jazz.  Love it.

You know what?  Go fuck your hat.

 

[Towards_the_gap]

Hat frigged.

I was indeed stepping back into that old argument, and so retract previous statement. However, I'd really rather see the kit we need to do our jobs out here BEFORE those who have a relatively safer, more comfortable, state of living get extras. That was my point.

That being said, and I should've said it earlier, well done Dan.

 

[gcclarke]

I understand the sentiment, but still, it's not a zero-sum game. KAF being supplied, free of charge, with some wine by Elwood Blues doesn't affect the logistics of getting needed kit out to where you guys are. Getting the wine out there isn't a priority, and I'm sure that it only makes it onto flights that have room after all the gear that is actually needed to fight a war is loaded up.

I do realize this is a bit of an assumption, but I would also assume that anyone making the opposite decision would be court-martialed for it.

And of course, I do realize that it is somewhat hypocritical for me to weigh in on such matters, with the fact that on ship we get to bring our bar with us.

 

[Thompson_JM]

...with the fact that on ship we get to bring our bar with us...

I knew I should have gone Navy.....  ;D

 

[SeanNewman]

...Regimental Day wasn't even acknowledged.

Very unfortunate for you, because we certainly did the Ortona Toast with the best rum I've ever tasted in 2008.

 

[observor 69]

Technoviking in another life ? 
Anyone see a resemblance ?

 

[vonGarvin]

:rofl:

 

[SeanNewman]

Ah, yes, this is rather refreshing.  "KAFITE" vs "OTW", the "real" soldiers, and all that jazz.  Love it.

It's coming...either the BK picture or the plaid picture...steady...hoooooold...

 

[vonGarvin]

These?  ;D

 

[SeanNewman]

These?  ;D

Drats, your pre-emptive self-strike has left me with no viable COAs!!  I surrender...

PS - How do you do the expanding pic trick?