“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” ~ Bob Dylan
We recently attended a Gala evening at the 62nd Regiment in Shawinigan organized to welcome home the 10 soldiers from the area who recently returned from Afghanistan and to honour the memory of one from the region who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009.
The evening was organized by a local historian (himself a retired officer from the Mauricie region - http://www.tourismemauricie.com/ ).
An evening filled with much ceremony and tradition. Rousing military marches. Presentations. Singing. Speeches. A very pleasant catered 5-course dinner during which we were entertained by the very talented musicians of the regimental band.
The most memorable was the symbolic ‘passing of the torch’ ceremony from aging war veterans to each of the ten (oh so very) young soldiers.
Francois gave a very inspiring speech in which he quoted Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher, Edmund Burke: ‘La seule chose qui permet au mal de triompher est l’inaction des hommes de bien’.
And a brief excerpt from the Commander’s address....
... » ”Vous faite parti de ces hommes de bien, vous avez l’étoffe des héros et vous contribuer á bâtir un monde meilleur. Un jour le peuple afghan sera délivré de la menace et sera à même d’assumer sa sécurité, son économie et sa gouvernance. Un jour hommes et femmes aurant les même droits et recevront la même éducation en Afghanistan, reconstruire un pays ne se fait pas du jour au lendemain « …….. » merci de votre implication dans le conflit afin d’essayer de construire un monde meilleur, merci pour votre courage, vous rendez le régiment fier par vos action…. »
