Remembrance Day parade tips
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career_radio-checker said:
All we did was a group of us from my unit all headed out to the local legion grabbed a few pictures and headed off to a table and asked the old guys if they minded us joining them.If theres a fellow ex armoured guy (or your trade) I'm sure they want to talk about trade related stuff.And most times you find they will pick your brain to compare what you do now compared to what they did.
We had one gentleman tell us he never fired his main gun once.He drove around and called in arty as his main gun he said was useless!
I always found approaching them and saying "thank you for your service" was kind of weak.Go up and treat them like one of the boys. A lot of the time retired guys miss being around the army/comrades and love to shoot the S*** with "the boys".Save the thanks for when you guys are heading home for the night.One guy even asked us to show up to one of their suppers later on that week.
And most important listen to them,you'll proably hear more stories over a few beers from a guy than they would ever tell their families,feel privileged.
God I love remembrance day.
10 more days!!!!!!!
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SoF said:
What!
Some would say that that is the only way to do Drill. >
M
maniac779
Guest
SoF said:
If you're going to do it, at least show up on time!
The day my old unit did our freedom of the city parade, I was out with the boys the night before and got completely trashed, stayed up until 4am and STILL showed up on time for parade practice, with no indications (to the Snr. ranks anyway) that I was hurting in a big way.
Another troop, showed up late and told the CSM that he'd been out boozing the night before. At the end of the parade, the CSM thanked us for the turn out, and especially thanked Cpl. So-and-so for showing up despite the hangover!
Bah!!
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career_radio-checker said:
Ask sincere questions. Don't just leap in. Start with easy ones, like "How old were you when you joined?" "Why did you join?" "What did you do before the war?" Don't fixate on violence.
Pay attention to what they say. Don't take over the conversation with your own stories. They will shut down.
They should be doing 90% of the talking, you should be doing 90% of the listening.
Comparing Bosnia to the Italian Campaign will piss them off, but they will usually be too polite to let you know.
Ask open-ended questions. Validate what they say. Respect boundaries.
Don't talk to them if you have been drinking. You will be inattentive without realizing it.
Their friends bled for their memories. Pay close and sustained attention to the answer, or don't ask.
That's why most vets have a simple "Thanks for the question, now 'get lost'" response - 60 years of people not really interested in the answers.
November 11 might not be the best day ... too much going on ... but vets' hospitals are always full of people looking to have a visitor. They love it when somebody young shows up to lend an ear.
Also remember for some of them, age has taken its toll, and it is physically hard for them to speak or listen - so cut the old fellers some space if they need it.
I've talked to many veterans, and some have opened up a lot ... again, it's all about paying close attention to the answers. Set aside at least 30 minutes or don't even start ...
my 2 cents
Edit to add:
Don't be afraid of silence ... if there's a two-minute pause in the conversation, let it be. They are pulling up old stories. Just sip your drink, have a pretzel, and wait for the rest of the story ...
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I have a request.
There is an absolutely wonderful woman who lives in the Dartmouth/Halifax area that is 85 years old and served her Country with distinction during and after WWII. She was in the WRENS. She's almost blind these days and her legs bother her after crushing them in a car accident and her heart has a little tick when it should be tocking. But she's a tough old dear and still walks a couple of km a day to keep in shape. It is her one wish to be taken to the November 11th ceremonies at Point Pleasant Park. The MOT took away her license a few years ago (boy was she mad over that) so she has a hard time getting over to the other side of Halifax. She normally attends the ceremonies at Sullivan's Pond in DM.
If anyone in the Halifax area that would like to meet this wonderful veteran and to escort her to the Naval Cenotaph ceremonies, please let me know and I'll hook you up. I can guarantee you that you will learn more about the Navy from this Vet and if you are especially interested, she'll show you her memorabilia of photos, letters, documents, books and yes, her old uniforms.
This particular Wren was the ONLY reg force member to attend HM's Coronation (the rest were all NAVRES) and she was hand picked to represent Canada at the Coronation. She has a ton of photos and news clippings to show anyone that's interested.
I have been truly honored to have met this woman and become her friend. At 85, she may not make another November 11th with her whole eyesight and I'd like to see her just once, have her wish come to bear.
TIA.
There is an absolutely wonderful woman who lives in the Dartmouth/Halifax area that is 85 years old and served her Country with distinction during and after WWII. She was in the WRENS. She's almost blind these days and her legs bother her after crushing them in a car accident and her heart has a little tick when it should be tocking. But she's a tough old dear and still walks a couple of km a day to keep in shape. It is her one wish to be taken to the November 11th ceremonies at Point Pleasant Park. The MOT took away her license a few years ago (boy was she mad over that) so she has a hard time getting over to the other side of Halifax. She normally attends the ceremonies at Sullivan's Pond in DM.
If anyone in the Halifax area that would like to meet this wonderful veteran and to escort her to the Naval Cenotaph ceremonies, please let me know and I'll hook you up. I can guarantee you that you will learn more about the Navy from this Vet and if you are especially interested, she'll show you her memorabilia of photos, letters, documents, books and yes, her old uniforms.
This particular Wren was the ONLY reg force member to attend HM's Coronation (the rest were all NAVRES) and she was hand picked to represent Canada at the Coronation. She has a ton of photos and news clippings to show anyone that's interested.
I have been truly honored to have met this woman and become her friend. At 85, she may not make another November 11th with her whole eyesight and I'd like to see her just once, have her wish come to bear.
TIA.
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Gotta love the "new Army".... in my opinion you first go to the mess, then the legion or veterans group of your choice... then go out on the town and be proud!!!!!
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We dont do a whole lot for the 11th of November, we have our day on ANZAC day, 25th April. But anyone who thinks that just because everyones formed up at attention no ones going to notice you relaxing and loosening those arms and legs is massively mistaken. Like others have said, your representing not only yourself but your unit, your corp, your Army, your country and even more importantly those who've copped it while representing you. Your there to honour their sacrifice.
I reckon its great when all the old digs and the young blokes come together and have a few beers. The night before, the night after, next weekend while your playing golf. A couple of quite beers can bring people together in a great way and reaffirm that brilliant bond that all soldiers share.
Dawn services are also a fantastic opportunity (especially if all the boys were drinking the night before) to earn a bit of cash with a bit of capital on who you reckon will go down first and how many will follow. If anyone wants to buy in i can get them good odds.
I reckon its great when all the old digs and the young blokes come together and have a few beers. The night before, the night after, next weekend while your playing golf. A couple of quite beers can bring people together in a great way and reaffirm that brilliant bond that all soldiers share.
Dawn services are also a fantastic opportunity (especially if all the boys were drinking the night before) to earn a bit of cash with a bit of capital on who you reckon will go down first and how many will follow. If anyone wants to buy in i can get them good odds
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I am a son of a WWII vetern and have had the rare privillage to attend quite a few Remembrance Day's with him and a host of other special days. The ceremony itself is sombre, but the wake after can be quite fun. They do very much enjoy an audience to tell their stories to and will apperciate your willingness to hear them all, I hope you just got paid. I think you will find that they will talk about similiar stuff that you like to talk about for your smokers, if they ask for one of your stories, something similiar to what they have done would be best.
For what to wear under your white gloves, you could consider going to store like Mountain Equipment coop and see what sort of liner gloves they have, make sure you bring your gloves to make sure they don't show through, most are dark colour and also that tey aren't too tight as restriction in circulation will also cause trouble in the cold. In the missions my Father flew over Germany, he always used a pair of silk gloves, there maybe a new fabric that does better now.
An example story you might hear:
The tradition in bomber command was to leave the mess open till everyone returned home from the mission. This night a by the book officer was on duty and had it close on time. When we came back we found the mess closed because of 'regulations' so out we went to collect the geese sleeping on the field for their Fall migration. We captured them in our great coats and brought them back to put in this officer's room. When he came back to his room, he learned to not close the door till the geese came back.
During the war, my uncle and father kept in touch with each other by mailing my grandmother who would then mail the other's news to each other. There was only one time that this did not happen and it was the time my uncle was amongst the first to liberate a concentration camp. The Irish Guards was the unit he was attached to and he said it was the first time he saw any of them cry. The liberation of a death camp was the only time during the war that my uncle sent a letter to my father and it was because he didn't want my grandmother to know of it.
My uncle was an engineer in the coal industry, his job was seconded to the war effort, but some how he managed to get into the army as an engineer, I don't know how. He was in basic and would be an officer, but before it finished he slugged his corporal for being an ass and after charges ended up as a senior nco. During Operation Market Garden, he managed to put up a bridge across a contested river with his unit and got a mentioned in dispatches. He spent that day up to his armpits in a cold river under fire from the Germans, his commanding officer way back there was knighted.
My Grandfather had an unfortunate life, born on the Isle of Lewis at Stornaway, my Great Grandmother died early and my Great Grandfather married to a woman that treated him poorly. At the age of 14 he got on a ship to Glasgow and joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a boy piper in 1910. He went to France in 1914, was gassed and wounded a few times. One night in no man's land alone and wounded he came across a German soldier much worse than him, he carried him back to his line and that lucky fellow recovered and spent the rest of the war as pow. I have the gift he made for him, a picture of him framed by crude twine of the Allied countries flags . If you think about the situation, he had sharpnel in his leg and arm and could without any question have left the German behind, his own life was in danger as it was. When my father talked to me about what it means to be a warrior, this is the moment that I think most truly shows the ideal. The difference between the warrior and the war-like.
My father was in Berlin for the occupation, he was there also for the blockade as well. His favorite story from that time was when he went to a party hosted by the Soviets. Germans have a great love for big staircases and this party was at a place with a big staircase. At the foor of the staircase was a Soviet Guardsman and another posted every 10 steps or so. He was challenged by the first guardsman who then brought out a bottle and two glasses he filled with vodka, handed one to my father and said, "Stalin, Roosvelt, Churchill <russian trad toast thing> . When my father just sipped the drink the response was "What, you no like toast?" the glass was refilled and the toast repeated. The toast was repeated every 10 steps and did insure that everyone was liberated on entry.
For what to wear under your white gloves, you could consider going to store like Mountain Equipment coop and see what sort of liner gloves they have, make sure you bring your gloves to make sure they don't show through, most are dark colour and also that tey aren't too tight as restriction in circulation will also cause trouble in the cold. In the missions my Father flew over Germany, he always used a pair of silk gloves, there maybe a new fabric that does better now.
An example story you might hear:
The tradition in bomber command was to leave the mess open till everyone returned home from the mission. This night a by the book officer was on duty and had it close on time. When we came back we found the mess closed because of 'regulations' so out we went to collect the geese sleeping on the field for their Fall migration. We captured them in our great coats and brought them back to put in this officer's room. When he came back to his room, he learned to not close the door till the geese came back.
During the war, my uncle and father kept in touch with each other by mailing my grandmother who would then mail the other's news to each other. There was only one time that this did not happen and it was the time my uncle was amongst the first to liberate a concentration camp. The Irish Guards was the unit he was attached to and he said it was the first time he saw any of them cry. The liberation of a death camp was the only time during the war that my uncle sent a letter to my father and it was because he didn't want my grandmother to know of it.
My uncle was an engineer in the coal industry, his job was seconded to the war effort, but some how he managed to get into the army as an engineer, I don't know how. He was in basic and would be an officer, but before it finished he slugged his corporal for being an ass and after charges ended up as a senior nco. During Operation Market Garden, he managed to put up a bridge across a contested river with his unit and got a mentioned in dispatches. He spent that day up to his armpits in a cold river under fire from the Germans, his commanding officer way back there was knighted.
My Grandfather had an unfortunate life, born on the Isle of Lewis at Stornaway, my Great Grandmother died early and my Great Grandfather married to a woman that treated him poorly. At the age of 14 he got on a ship to Glasgow and joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a boy piper in 1910. He went to France in 1914, was gassed and wounded a few times. One night in no man's land alone and wounded he came across a German soldier much worse than him, he carried him back to his line and that lucky fellow recovered and spent the rest of the war as pow. I have the gift he made for him, a picture of him framed by crude twine of the Allied countries flags . If you think about the situation, he had sharpnel in his leg and arm and could without any question have left the German behind, his own life was in danger as it was. When my father talked to me about what it means to be a warrior, this is the moment that I think most truly shows the ideal. The difference between the warrior and the war-like.
My father was in Berlin for the occupation, he was there also for the blockade as well. His favorite story from that time was when he went to a party hosted by the Soviets. Germans have a great love for big staircases and this party was at a place with a big staircase. At the foor of the staircase was a Soviet Guardsman and another posted every 10 steps or so. He was challenged by the first guardsman who then brought out a bottle and two glasses he filled with vodka, handed one to my father and said, "Stalin, Roosvelt, Churchill <russian trad toast thing> . When my father just sipped the drink the response was "What, you no like toast?" the glass was refilled and the toast repeated. The toast was repeated every 10 steps and did insure that everyone was liberated on entry.
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career_radio-checker said:
LOL...Oh God, I'm glad that wasn't me....Ensure that anything that isn't a permanent fixture on your weapon is checked, double-checked, and triple-checked. That's Mag and Scope, and bayonet if attached.
CRC, I'll see if I can find some more of those. Even though I'm not at the Regiment anymore, P. Gray asked me to stand, so I told him I would.
I'll bring the gloves the day of.
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yes Remembrance Day is near. Although Remembrance Parades may be boring at times and seem to drag on and on, but I've near felt that I could Harv better spent my time. It is the little price I pay for my freedom and I'll gladly give up two hours of my time per year(well, okay, around 4 include the Battle of the Atlantic. that's an important parade too).
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I'm speaking now to those like myself who have served their time and mustered out. It is vitally important that we take the time out to attend the Remembrance, and make this a part of our family life, that our children can be educated as to the importance not only of the sacrifices made by those who did not get to come home, but to honour those who even now keep the watch. I hated standing in the rain, feeling my gabardine fill with sixty pounds of ice water, listening to local political windbags drone on as much as the next soldier. I also remember the pride of marching with my brethren, in one of the few occassions that the Canadian public actually sees those who stand on guard for thee. I too remember the calling of the roll, and the chilling words "Sir, they do not answer. We will remember." Like many of us, some of the names they call today were friends in life. If we do not take the time to remember them, then who will?
I am proud to say that all three of my daughters will be marching in the parade, and I will be laying a wreath in the name of the Heathen Freehold. I may be a heck of a lot warmer than I was in CF dress greens, but while I have legs to stand on, or wheels to roll on, I will keep faith with those who have gone before, and who followed me, into service.
I am proud to say that all three of my daughters will be marching in the parade, and I will be laying a wreath in the name of the Heathen Freehold. I may be a heck of a lot warmer than I was in CF dress greens, but while I have legs to stand on, or wheels to roll on, I will keep faith with those who have gone before, and who followed me, into service.
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Dinosaur
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Brihard said:
My God. I think 1 1/2 hours at the reverse is in contravention of the Geneva Convention. The parade commander should try and sort out a cenotaph guard change over more frequently if possible. Pick your moments, but give the troops a break if you can. Nothing's worse than watching a cenotaph guard wilt in the sleet while the local politician goes on and on and on (and on). Also, if possible, practise the guard a couple of weeks beforehand outside in cold weather (hey, we're infantry, rehearsal is good battle procedure!) with the kit they'll be wearing. Try different tricks for holding the weapon, types of gloves, clothing layers etc. (ladies' kidd gloves work well, get and extra large pair and wear thin polypro liners underneath). Try to stand still for longer and longer periods of time in the cold - just like training for a marathon. It also helps alot to make sure you're fit too e.g., troops in the UK hit the weights big time when they're on public duties; isometrics and stress positions work best, but it's hard to beat the good old pushup/situp routine. Then again, you're young and keen......
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Instead of attending the Parade in Victoria, I'm hopping a ferry to the mainland to attend the parade in Ladner. It's a small city that I grew up in, and doesn't really have a huge Military presence. The parade consists of Veterans, Cadets, and the Delta Police Band. The Police Band is really quite amazing. I saw them perform at the Nova Scotia International Tattoo a couple years back.
I'm really looking forward to returning to my hometown in uniform, and buying some Veterans a few Beers at the Legion.
I'm really looking forward to returning to my hometown in uniform, and buying some Veterans a few Beers at the Legion.
The toughest audience is the "old guys " of the Regiment I used to belong to. Marching past them you have to " suck it up " and do it right, if only for the "Tradition " factor. The idea of the " Regimental Family " is still strong here in Canada, thank god.
As for after the parade, nothing beats being able to go to the mess, to talk to the "old Guys " and learn something about being a Canadian soldier.
One of my best CF experiences was being at a winter rifle shoot at Borden, and watching the WW2 documentary film " Canada At War " with a roomfull of WW2 48th Highlanders who fought in Italy, and thru to the end of the war in 1945. Talk about a " living history " lesson !!!! They were amazingly frank about the real way that they had to fight, not the sanatised version that the folks at home were being shown in the newsreel movies in Canada. I gained a new appreciation for their quiet toughness and how they kept on with a lousy job, despite being ignored and insulted as the "D Day Dodgers " playing in the "Spagehtti League ".in Italy. The media ignored them, after D Day.
JimB Toronto.
As for after the parade, nothing beats being able to go to the mess, to talk to the "old Guys " and learn something about being a Canadian soldier.
One of my best CF experiences was being at a winter rifle shoot at Borden, and watching the WW2 documentary film " Canada At War " with a roomfull of WW2 48th Highlanders who fought in Italy, and thru to the end of the war in 1945. Talk about a " living history " lesson !!!! They were amazingly frank about the real way that they had to fight, not the sanatised version that the folks at home were being shown in the newsreel movies in Canada. I gained a new appreciation for their quiet toughness and how they kept on with a lousy job, despite being ignored and insulted as the "D Day Dodgers " playing in the "Spagehtti League ".in Italy. The media ignored them, after D Day.
JimB Toronto.
the 48th regulator
Army.ca Fixture
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jimb said:
Hehehe,
Tell me about it! I can name quite a few that were there and you described the boys to a tee.
dileas
tess
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