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Support strong for troops; Soldiers' families join walk around Gillies Lake
Michael Peeling, Timmins Daily Press, 23 Oct 06
http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=240873&catname=Local+News&classif=
Dozens of people walked around Gillies Lake Sunday to show support for the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, four of whom are from Timmins.
Organizer Karl Habla, known in Timmins as "Mr. Canada," has a son in the navy and his father served in the Czech and Germany armed forces.
He insists the walk had no political purpose
"No one was specially invited," said Habla, referring to MP Charlie Angus (NDP - Timmins-James Bay), who stood nearby.
"Canadians from all walks of life came out to support our troops. This is not a demonstration or a protest."
Habla believes the Canadian military is helping the people of Afghanistan for good reasons, but he is concerned the soldiers are being overwhelmed.
"They've got the Taliban in front of them, land mines on one side, suicide bombers on another and the government is reluctant to use the word 'war' to describe what is going on over there," Habla said.
"We'll carry on walking as long as they are over there. I hope the communities of Canada will follow Timmins' lead in showing the soldiers support by walking," he added.
The four soldiers from Timmins are Justin Blaine, Andrew McLeod, Sam Bertrand and Sean Reid, all reservists from the Algonquin Regiment. Second Lieut. Scott Hogan has worked with them all and says the walk was just as much about looking out for soldiers' families as it was supporting their comrades.
"The more people know what they are going through here and in Afghanistan, the better," Hogan said.
"We're here to show the families they are not alone while their loved ones are over there," said Sgt. Artie Campbell.
"They should feel they can come talk to us about anything."
Husband and wife Sandra and Harvey Engly of Timmins came out to support their son, Master Cpl. Ward Engly, 32, a member of the regular army serving in Afghanistan for his second year-long tour and a veteran of Bosnia from 1998- 99. He isn't based in Timmins.
"It's so scary to have him go overseas," Sandra said. "I watch the television and hope I don't hear his name when they talk about the latest casualties."
Ward was recently home because of shrapnel and bullet wounds, but was given the go-ahead to return to the conflict after his recovery. Neither his father nor his friend Cpl. Shane Lebrun believe the Canadians' efforts are worthwhile, but they do support Ward and the other troops.
"I've been thinking about my buddies over there," Lebrun said. "I'm here to show my support for the fellas and it's nice to see so many people care about them, but I think the conflict is a losing cause. It's getting to be like Vietnam. The Pakistanis support the Taliban."
Many of the walkers at Gillies Lake mentioned the three soldiers from North Bay in Afghanistan as well.
Habla said 42 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in the Afghanistan conflict so far and the current plan has troops stationed there until 2009.
City soldiers
The following soldiers from Timmins are currently serving on missions in Afghanistan:
Justin Blaine
Andrew McLeod
Sam Bertrand
Sean Reid
Support strong for troops; Soldiers' families join walk around Gillies Lake
Michael Peeling, Timmins Daily Press, 23 Oct 06
http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=240873&catname=Local+News&classif=
Dozens of people walked around Gillies Lake Sunday to show support for the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, four of whom are from Timmins.
Organizer Karl Habla, known in Timmins as "Mr. Canada," has a son in the navy and his father served in the Czech and Germany armed forces.
He insists the walk had no political purpose
"No one was specially invited," said Habla, referring to MP Charlie Angus (NDP - Timmins-James Bay), who stood nearby.
"Canadians from all walks of life came out to support our troops. This is not a demonstration or a protest."
Habla believes the Canadian military is helping the people of Afghanistan for good reasons, but he is concerned the soldiers are being overwhelmed.
"They've got the Taliban in front of them, land mines on one side, suicide bombers on another and the government is reluctant to use the word 'war' to describe what is going on over there," Habla said.
"We'll carry on walking as long as they are over there. I hope the communities of Canada will follow Timmins' lead in showing the soldiers support by walking," he added.
The four soldiers from Timmins are Justin Blaine, Andrew McLeod, Sam Bertrand and Sean Reid, all reservists from the Algonquin Regiment. Second Lieut. Scott Hogan has worked with them all and says the walk was just as much about looking out for soldiers' families as it was supporting their comrades.
"The more people know what they are going through here and in Afghanistan, the better," Hogan said.
"We're here to show the families they are not alone while their loved ones are over there," said Sgt. Artie Campbell.
"They should feel they can come talk to us about anything."
Husband and wife Sandra and Harvey Engly of Timmins came out to support their son, Master Cpl. Ward Engly, 32, a member of the regular army serving in Afghanistan for his second year-long tour and a veteran of Bosnia from 1998- 99. He isn't based in Timmins.
"It's so scary to have him go overseas," Sandra said. "I watch the television and hope I don't hear his name when they talk about the latest casualties."
Ward was recently home because of shrapnel and bullet wounds, but was given the go-ahead to return to the conflict after his recovery. Neither his father nor his friend Cpl. Shane Lebrun believe the Canadians' efforts are worthwhile, but they do support Ward and the other troops.
"I've been thinking about my buddies over there," Lebrun said. "I'm here to show my support for the fellas and it's nice to see so many people care about them, but I think the conflict is a losing cause. It's getting to be like Vietnam. The Pakistanis support the Taliban."
Many of the walkers at Gillies Lake mentioned the three soldiers from North Bay in Afghanistan as well.
Habla said 42 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in the Afghanistan conflict so far and the current plan has troops stationed there until 2009.
City soldiers
The following soldiers from Timmins are currently serving on missions in Afghanistan:
Justin Blaine
Andrew McLeod
Sam Bertrand
Sean Reid
