Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
The SITREP
“VOICE OF THE POINTSMAN ASSOCIATION” Website: www.thepointsman.ca Inquiries: [email protected]
And now “THE POINTSMAN ASSOCIATION”, “THE POINTSMAN PHOTO MEMORIES” and “RCAF/PROVOST PHOTO MEMORIES” are on Facebook too!
February 2012 Edition
“IT’S BACK TO BUSINESS”
“OUTWARDS AND UPWARDS”
TAKE 1: “When we last left our heroes, they were riding to the rescue of Sweet Sally Sandling whom that “Villain of all Villains”; Ned Nasty had tied to a railroad track! Meanwhile, Aunt Polly, who had flipped a buckboard racing to help Sally, was lying in a ditch at the edge of town…” NO? You don’t remember that either eh? Funny, that in the world of the O.R.G. that our daily lives seem very much at times like an old time soap opera. We race from one disaster, conflict or concern to another sometimes without even taking time to see, let alone smell the roses. Never mind Reality TV, Regular Life is a fast paced adventure, and sometimes you just have to take a “commercial break” from your day, put your feet up and catch a breath… Hopefully with the Sitrep being back, it will provide that good excuse for you to grab a coffee, sit back and catch up.
The Pointsman Association, like all living and breathing things goes through change, constant change. It has to, or else it becomes stagnate and unfeeling/uncaring. This month’s issue should bring everyone up to snuff with what is going on, and the changes made.
You will also notice that some things are missing, like a number of events we normally
either sponsor or promote. Call it a real hard look at today’s world and our economy, and we thought fewer events, but more affordable events would be the right way to proceed. Last year we sponsored or promoted almost a dozen events and functions. AND you told us that was far too many.
You will notice fewer stories about today’s MP Trade, for with the second copy of the Branch and CMPA’s members only “Thunderbird Journal” coming out, with it’s focus all about MP trade. Unfortunately our website has been instructed to post a “link only” to the CMPA, so their members who frequent the Pointsman website may be sent over to their own website to
2
read the “Journal”. We can assure you that those who can read it will find it a very informative and colourfull newsletter. Finally you will see that we still hold the principles that we were founded on those many years ago. Promoting communications amongst old comrades, providing opportunities to meet new friends, and respecting the history and heritage of OUR Military Police Branch and Trade. …
The New Year has come upon us, bringing a new day and a new insight and expanded vision for our Association. I first off would like to thank all the members of the association who took the time to vote for your executive and voice not only your appreciation but your concerns. Duncan Legget has taken the Vice President Role, while Kristina Davis will remain as the Secretary Treasurer. As we are a new association, as any in the world, there is going to be growing pains. The growth of any organization is strongest when their membership is allowed to voice all their visions for the progression and betterment of all. A new committee has been formed, to allow a broader view and perspective of our goals. The committee consists of Paul Melanson (East Coast), Per Wallenius (West Coast), Danny Lynch (Central Region), Bert Tops (London) and Del Blakney (Kingston). One of my hopes and deep desires for the Association is the growth from the expansion through the international brotherhood of Military Police. Our vision has always been to have recognized not only the Regular Force MPS, serving and retired, but the Reserve Force as well. I have mentioned in previous messages on our site, that we as an association have been approached by the American Military Police, as well as possibly the NATO Military Police. Just recently the Royal Military Police have expressed their interest as well. These are positive steps in growing strong, and ensuring that our motto "To Honour and Remember" becomes global. To have a brotherhood of International Military Police, serving and retired under the umbrella of the Pointsman Association, would enhance the work of past and present members.
THE POINTSMAN ASSOCIATION
“O” GROUP By RUSS GIRDEN, PRESIDENT
3
In closing I would like to say that this is an association for the members, and that we all look forward to the future and let the past be the past. Strength through growth.
FRED CROSS * RONALD NEIL * STEVE ZENDRAN * “RANDY” BONANY
BEST WISHES AND A SPEEDY RECOVERY
RANDY NELISHER*DENNIS BATES
“TO HONOUR AND REMEMBER””
INFO POST
Private Members Bill will create a Defence of Canada Medal
Written by: NNL Staff on November 23, 2011. Ottawa – Canadians who defended Canada from external threats during the cold war should be recognized with a medal and if Carol Hughes has her way, they will get one. Hughes the MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing re-introduced her Private Members Bill that will create a Defence of Canada Medal (Cold War) in the House of Commons today with support from Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP, John Rafferty. “Its purpose is to formally honour the people who defended Canada from within Canada for the period from 1946 to 1989,” said Hughes. “It is intended to be awarded to individuals who served in the regular and reserve forces, police forces, emergency measures organizations, as well as civil organizations such as St. John Ambulance, all of whom were concerned with the protection of Canada from the threat posed by the countries behind the Iron Curtain.”
The medal was conceived of by Elliot Lake resident, Ulrich Krings, who presented Hughes with a detailed proposal which she brought to the House of Commons in the last parliament.
The Cold War lasted from 1946 to 1989, when the dismantling of the Berlin Wall
symbolically ended a period of tension that peaked during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was the driving force behind the arms race. “I’m very happy to second this important bill,” said Thunder Bay – Rainy River MP, John Rafferty. “The Defence of Canada Medal (Cold War) would
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN…
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
4
recognize the contributions that were made by Canadians from all walks of Life during an important period in our country’s history.”
“The medal will recognize the support these men and women gave Canadians and the countless hours spent training and practising for an attack on Canadian soil that, thankfully, never happened,” said Hughes. “Their service to our country came at a time when we became aware of how fragile peace can be and how vulnerable we became to advances in weapons and Warfare.”
Medals Paintings: Fred McGilligan
This is a painting of my service medals including my MP badge that a friend did as a keepsake, to be passed on to my grandkids. An excellent idea for our members, who would like to give a memento of your service to our sons and daughters. The person who hand painted this painting is a close friend of mine, and if anyone is interested they can contact me at the email address below for more information.
THE POINTSMAN ASSOCIATION’S OWN VETERAN RECOGNITION LAPEL PIN
Association Members will receive this lapel pin FREE with payment of your dues for 2012-13. Other Former MP personnel interested in obtaining this lapel pin please visit our website for details on how to obtain your own Pointsman Association’s MP Veteran’s Pin. It is a memento that we hope you will proudly wear…
www.thepointsman.ca
5
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
ST PATRICK’S DAY IN PETERBOROUGH, ON Sunday March 11
th, 2012
Joe “The Silver Fox” Hebert and Mr Alan McLaren (Mr McLaren’s son was one of the five lads that the Education Bursary was set up to honour), pose next to a restored Provost jeep before the 2011 Ride For Heroes...
Dave Bawden, Supervisor of Commissionaires at ASU London (many believe since Colonel Talbot founded the place), is retiring (again) after 25 years of dedicated service……all with the CFB/ASU London Military Police Sections. This gives him a total of 40 years in a uniform. Dave is remaining active with Sheba Imports, the Pointsman Association as our Webmaster, and spending time with his very energetic grandchildren.
ENJOY YOUR RETIRMENT BOSS!
With a successful “Ride For Heroes” last August, the organizers of the Peterborough St Patrick’s Day Parade have invited the Pointsman Association and it’s members to participate in this years event. The Parade is scheduled for Sunday, March 11th, 2012 starting at 1400 hrs. Members that are in the area, and wish to participate are asked to drop us e-mail at [email protected] for further details.
6
KINGSTON ON SATURDAY MAY 12TH, 2012
KINGSTON SPRING LUNCHEON
The Kingston Luncheon will be held May 12th at the Army Navy Air Force
Club on Gore Road (same location as in past years) Menu and other details will be out later in the spring. It is anticipated that there will be only one Luncheon for the year; however, with the possibility of another event being looked at for October.
DELL BLAKNEY IS THE OPI FOR KINGSTON WEEKENDS. PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ENTRIES OR INQUIRES TO DELL
CAPTAIN FRED ROGERS “GOLF DAY” LONDON, ON * June 2
nd, 2012
Details to be announced in the April Sitrep and on the Pointsman’s Website.
Captain Fred Rogers
7
To all our Military Police, Provost, Air Force Police brothers and sisters, their spouses and guests; we invite you to what is expected to be the largest reunion that was ever held; An opportunity to meet many colleagues and friends that we have met and/or served with during our military careers. Our military family will gather here in Summerside Prince Edward Island from Thursday August 23rd to our farewell breakfast on Sunday August 26th.
The venue is the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in downtown Summerside, walking distance to accommodations, shopping, theatre and much more.
PLEASE NOTE: To make it easier for you, the three pages of Reunion Information has been placed at the end of this newsletter. They can also be found on our website www.thepointsman.ca
Lots of Great Folks Look Forwarding to the August Reunion!
MILITARY POLICE REUNION
PROVOST – AIR FORCE POLICE – MILITARY POLICE
SUMMERSIDE PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
SILVER FOX CURLING AND YACHT
CLUB
August 23rd
– 26th
2012
THIS WILL BE AN EVENT TO
REMEMBER
8
Oh Dear God… Here We Go Again?
“THE RED & THE GRAY”
To paraphrase a famous writer, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Life goes around in circles. It can be good, or it can be difficult, but eventually it is up to ALL of US to learn from whatever there is to learn so WE can move ALL move forward. Failure to do so and WE become stagnate, just spinning OUR wheels. Unfortunately after these past two weeks, I am sitting down to again to write an editorial that in spirit has been written far too many times before… and what bothers me is that time and time again WE get so close, then someone decides to throw water on the APC track and WE get bogged down again… It was not too long ago when there was actually some promise that the O.R.G. and OUR Branch, might actually be able to sit down, get into lock step, and move forward toward working TOGETHER. An idea was put forth that would have OUR Branch recognize ALL the various Military Police O.R.G. Associations while focusing on moving forward TOGETHER.
This week, the Canadian Military Police Association (CMPA) sent an e-mail to the Pointsman Association to cease posting their “Thunderbird Journal” on our website, and instead, only post a link. Sadly “Thunderbird Journal”, a newsletter that once was a stalwart of the Branch that many of us read during our service has now become a CMPA “Members Only” newsletter. It was also brought to our attention that there are some questions raised about whether O.R.G. were/are authorized to wear the RED BERET in events promoting our Branch (actually this was granted to the O.R.G. years ago, and has been in practise by many of the O.R.G. in past events and functions). SO HERE WE GO AGAIN… BADGE or COIN, MESS DINNERS or LUNCHEONS & MESS CALLS, 20 years retired service or Shortened Service, INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OR INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS, OLD GUARD OR REBEL, AND SO ON, AND SO ON, AND SO ON… A matter of fact, one of our own members who answered a survey recently stated that he could see no difference between the two sides, for they appeared mirror images of each other. With one common thread that EVERYONE on the outside of this mess could see… that all of us must have and still are PROUD TO BE AN MP! And just maybe that is a start point to just recognize and accept ALL members for their Honourable Service who are “PROUD TO BE AN MP”. I have a Cantankerous (and slightly annoying) Old Friend who did some time with the PPCLI who constantly tells me that “Once a Patricia, always a Patricia”. I have a former Sergeant who served with the RCR, and he told me the same thing about the RCR. If we are prepared to learn from the experiences of OUR Infantry Regimental cousins and their Associations, maybe it can lead to that all elusive Basic Common Denominator. “If a member was good enough to qualify as and be recognized as a Military Policeman or/Policewoman, and wear the cap badge, then recognize them as a member of OUR trade”. ALL of us know members of the Reserve who serve(d) in their Military Police Units, and are just as proud of their Thunderbird cap badge and contributions as many of our Regular Force members. No matter what our units, what our
9
status, simply it’s time to recognize and accept all of our member’s honourable service to our trade. “PROUD TO BE AN MP” AND FOR GODSAKE HAVE SOME FUN! Let’s see… We’ll get a bunch of baseball caps, some RED and some GRAY, I am sure that Gettysburg would be booked but maybe a “Field Mess Dinner” on the Mattawa Plain one weekend… WINNER TAKES ALL.
“To Honour and Remember”
SORRY, BUT I JUST HAD TOO….
& From the Desk of Peter Marshall:
Peterborough ON Police charged these three hunters with Public Mischief and having open beer in a vehicle as they drove down the main street, and caused about 6 accidents.
You think maybe “Timmies” forgot to freshen the coffee pot after 20 minutes that day?
10
11
12
