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Soldiers deserve proper welcome: councillors
GREG MERCER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GUELPH (Feb 7, 2007)
It's been a symbol of support for the U.S. troops in Iraq, solidarity with American hostages in Iran, and, in one popular 1970s folk song, a welcome home for an ex-con who has served his time.
This month, the Canadian Forces are hoping Guelphites will fasten symbolic yellow ribbons to their cars, porches and trees as a show of support for the 12 reservists returning from the biggest Canadian deployment since the Korean War.
The dozen soldiers, reservists from Guelph's 11th Field Artillery Regiment who set aside their civilian lives for a six-month mission in Afghanistan, are coming home uninjured. They've beaten remarkable odds in a conflict that has claimed dozens of Canadian lives, said Captain Tim Fletcher, a public affairs officer with the military.
"That's beating the odds. That's exceptional. Everybody over there was exposed to danger," he said.
Reservists from Kitchener and Windsor have not been so lucky; they suffered injuries that sent them home early. And in the village of Erin, east of Guelph, the cemetery made room for one more: Lieutenant Bill Turner, a former member of the regiment in Guelph who was killed in April by a roadside bomb.
As the soldiers start trickling home, Fletcher would like to see Guelph decked out in as many yellow ribbons as possible -- including at signs welcoming visitors to the city.
"Whether or not people support the war in Afghanistan, the fact is these soldiers who went there are their neighbours. They're their friends and family, children, co-workers, school mates. They went to a place where they placed themselves in dangers, on our behalf. Not all of them came back," he said.
The 11th Field Regiment's soldiers in Afghanistan filled a variety of roles since landing there last summer. Some were base security at the Kandahar airfield, others worked as radio operators in artillery bases that directly engaged the Taliban.
City councillor Leanne Piper thinks Guelph should have some sort of welcome home along the lines given to returning soldiers from bygone eras.
Although she's against the war in Afghanistan, Piper said the troops needs to know they're supported.
"In our past, we have been responsible for homecoming parades during the war, and war memorials. Recognizing our citizens who risked their lives to serve in the armed forces is something this city has always had a historical role in," Piper said.
"I think we must continue to play that role."
A call to the mayor's office late yesterday was not returned.
But councillors Bob Bell and Ian Findlay also said they support some kind of show of support for the local soldiers, although they want to hear from the military directly. The local legion is looking at what can be done to welcome the soldiers back, said branch president Moe Ferris.
When Jim Stoneburgh, a former UN peacekeeper, returned from his posting in the Golan Heights, he was unceremoniously dropped off in Toronto and told to find his own way home. A buddy of his had to deliver his medal for serving. He said a proper welcome home can help ease the bitterness of war.
"It was 'thanks a lot, goodbye' back then," he said. "The governments are just starting to recognize the sacrifices these guys are making."
Erin Mayor Rod Finnie, who attended Turner's funeral, said Guelph should consider itself lucky its sons and daughters are returning home safe. A death can be a jarring reminder that the conflict in Afghanistan is real one, he said.
"It's always hard when a community loses one of its members. It's one of ours, and it makes it not just something that's happening on the front page of the newspaper. It's real," Finnie said.
He knows the soldiers' readjustment to home will likely take some time. In the 1970s, he shared an apartment in Toronto with young men who had returned from Vietnam. One of them couldn't be startled awake at night without risk of sparking a violent reaction, Finnie said.
After medical and psychological exams, Guelph's soldiers will be given time to re-integrate into civilian society, Fletcher said. That means little things like getting used to waking up without roll call, and being able to go to the fridge and find food when you're hungry, he said.
"It also means big things, like not having to worry about dying every time you take your car for a ride," he said.
[email protected]
Well done 11th Field.
Soldiers deserve proper welcome: councillors
GREG MERCER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
GUELPH (Feb 7, 2007)
It's been a symbol of support for the U.S. troops in Iraq, solidarity with American hostages in Iran, and, in one popular 1970s folk song, a welcome home for an ex-con who has served his time.
This month, the Canadian Forces are hoping Guelphites will fasten symbolic yellow ribbons to their cars, porches and trees as a show of support for the 12 reservists returning from the biggest Canadian deployment since the Korean War.
The dozen soldiers, reservists from Guelph's 11th Field Artillery Regiment who set aside their civilian lives for a six-month mission in Afghanistan, are coming home uninjured. They've beaten remarkable odds in a conflict that has claimed dozens of Canadian lives, said Captain Tim Fletcher, a public affairs officer with the military.
"That's beating the odds. That's exceptional. Everybody over there was exposed to danger," he said.
Reservists from Kitchener and Windsor have not been so lucky; they suffered injuries that sent them home early. And in the village of Erin, east of Guelph, the cemetery made room for one more: Lieutenant Bill Turner, a former member of the regiment in Guelph who was killed in April by a roadside bomb.
As the soldiers start trickling home, Fletcher would like to see Guelph decked out in as many yellow ribbons as possible -- including at signs welcoming visitors to the city.
"Whether or not people support the war in Afghanistan, the fact is these soldiers who went there are their neighbours. They're their friends and family, children, co-workers, school mates. They went to a place where they placed themselves in dangers, on our behalf. Not all of them came back," he said.
The 11th Field Regiment's soldiers in Afghanistan filled a variety of roles since landing there last summer. Some were base security at the Kandahar airfield, others worked as radio operators in artillery bases that directly engaged the Taliban.
City councillor Leanne Piper thinks Guelph should have some sort of welcome home along the lines given to returning soldiers from bygone eras.
Although she's against the war in Afghanistan, Piper said the troops needs to know they're supported.
"In our past, we have been responsible for homecoming parades during the war, and war memorials. Recognizing our citizens who risked their lives to serve in the armed forces is something this city has always had a historical role in," Piper said.
"I think we must continue to play that role."
A call to the mayor's office late yesterday was not returned.
But councillors Bob Bell and Ian Findlay also said they support some kind of show of support for the local soldiers, although they want to hear from the military directly. The local legion is looking at what can be done to welcome the soldiers back, said branch president Moe Ferris.
When Jim Stoneburgh, a former UN peacekeeper, returned from his posting in the Golan Heights, he was unceremoniously dropped off in Toronto and told to find his own way home. A buddy of his had to deliver his medal for serving. He said a proper welcome home can help ease the bitterness of war.
"It was 'thanks a lot, goodbye' back then," he said. "The governments are just starting to recognize the sacrifices these guys are making."
Erin Mayor Rod Finnie, who attended Turner's funeral, said Guelph should consider itself lucky its sons and daughters are returning home safe. A death can be a jarring reminder that the conflict in Afghanistan is real one, he said.
"It's always hard when a community loses one of its members. It's one of ours, and it makes it not just something that's happening on the front page of the newspaper. It's real," Finnie said.
He knows the soldiers' readjustment to home will likely take some time. In the 1970s, he shared an apartment in Toronto with young men who had returned from Vietnam. One of them couldn't be startled awake at night without risk of sparking a violent reaction, Finnie said.
After medical and psychological exams, Guelph's soldiers will be given time to re-integrate into civilian society, Fletcher said. That means little things like getting used to waking up without roll call, and being able to go to the fridge and find food when you're hungry, he said.
"It also means big things, like not having to worry about dying every time you take your car for a ride," he said.
[email protected]
Well done 11th Field.
