Soldier

military wives

NDP motion seeks state funeral for WWI vets

NDP motion seeks state funeral for WWI vets
Updated Tue. Nov. 21 2006 9:10 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The New Democratic Party will put forward a motion Tuesday to hold a state funeral for all Canadians who served during the First World War when the final veteran passes away.

Just three First World War veterans are still alive -- and all of them are 105 or 106 years old.

Only three surviving First World War veterans - Percy Wilson, 105, and Lloyd Clemett and John Babcock, both 106 - are still alive.

NDP Leader Jack Layton said the government should recognize that a state funeral would celebrate "the contribution of a whole generation of Canadians who served, whether overseas or here at home and their families as well."

Layton told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday morning that the funeral would allow the entire country to pay tribute all those who fought.

"We won't be able to look them in the eyes anymore and thank them for their service the way we should for everyone who is willing to serve our country the way they did and our armed forces personnel still do," he said.

The veterans' advancing years have created a groundswell of support for a Dominion Institute proposal to follow the example of Australia, which held a state funeral for the final survivor of the Battle of Gallipoli.

By Tuesday morning, nearly 89,000 people had signed a petition on the institute's website asking that the Canadian government support the proposal.

But Layton needs the unanimous support of all the federal parties to see the motion be dealt with in a timely manner.

"There's a lot of business before the House of course. we're dealing with a whole lot of issues," Layton said.

"If we're able to get all the parties to agree to the idea and I'm very optimistic. ... If everyone's agreeable to the idea then it can move along quickly through the House and that way the government will have the will of Parliament expressed and they can get on with making the preparations for this really important day."

The Liberals and Bloc Quebecois have indicated they will support the motion but the Conservatives may not.

A spokesman for Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson said the Tories can't say whether they will back the motion until they see it.

The government is also considering military funerals for the remaining three veterans, if their families wish to have one.

A poll released on Remembrance Day found that three out of four respondents approve of a state funeral when the last First World War veteran dies.

State funerals are one of the highest honours a country can bestow on a person, but they're traditionally reserved for prime ministers and governors general.

More than 600,000 Canadians served in the First World War and 60,000 of those were killed.

Funeral held for Mi'kmaq soldier killed in Iraq

Funeral held for Mi'kmaq soldier killed in Iraq
Updated Thu. Nov. 9 2006 10:59 PM ET

Canadian Press

FREDERICTON -- The mother of a Canadian killed while on military duty in Iraq hugged the folded U.S. flag she was handed Thursday after it was removed from her son's coffin.

Tucked inside the flag were three spent rifle shells from volleys fired in Michael Seeley's honour during his burial in a cemetery overlooking the Saint John River.

The shells stand for duty, honour and country.

"The last shell was for country and I thought to myself there probably should have been two because he had two countries,'' said Theresa Seeley.

"He is peaceful. He fought for what he believed in. He did what he wanted to do. I'm really proud of him. There's nothing else I can say.''

Seeley, 27, a member of the Mi'Kmaq First Nation, was killed in a bomb attack on Oct. 30 while on duty with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

He was one of more than a dozen Canadian aboriginals serving with U.S. forces in Iraq.

Seeley's funeral service honoured his aboriginal origins and his love of military service.

Since Canadian aboriginals are considered citizens of North America, there is a long-standing tradition of First Nations people crossing the border to join the U.S. military.

"Why do our people serve in the U.S. military? I think because we can,'' said G. Wayne Brooks from the St. Mary's First Nation in Fredericton.

"I think it represents a chance for adventure and travel.''

Brooks handed out tobacco, which was sprinkled on Seeley's casket as an offering to his ancestors in the spirit world.

Seeley was the second Canadian-born soldier to die in Iraq in October, one of the worst months for U.S. military losses since the conflict began in 2003. Marine Sgt. Jonathan J. Simpson, a dual Canadian and U.S. citizen, was killed in Iraq during combat operations on Oct. 14 and buried in Quebec, where he was born.

Seeley, a sergeant, was killed south of Baghdad when a bomb went off near his vehicle.

His mother said military investigators have arrested a woman in connection with the insurgent attack. She said she has been told the woman will stand trial. "You don't picture a woman doing something like this," Seeley said.

"My image of a woman is of a mother or a sister. How could this woman inflict such suffering on someone?"

Seeley, who graduated from Fredericton High School, served with Canadian reserve forces before crossing to the United States to join the U.S. Marine Corps.

Following his time with the Marines, which included service in Iraq and Korea, he signed up with the U.S. Army and headed back to Iraq for a second tour of duty.

He was killed just a couple of days before he was due to leave the war-torn country.<>

The Military Wife

This Post Is for my wife, I didnt write it but I agree with every word !!!!!!!!!


~The military wife~ ---- Author Unknown

The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into His sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said, "Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order. She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both a father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location ten times in seventeen years. And, oh yes, she must have six pairs of hands!"
The angel shook her head, "Six pairs of hands? No way.
" The Lord continued,"Don't worry, I will make other military wives to help her. And I will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, 'I understand' when she doesn't and say 'I love you', regardless."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently. "Go to bed and get some rest.You can finish this tomorrow."
"I can't stop now," said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave good-bye to her husband from a pier, a runway or a depot, and understand why it's important that he leave."
The angel circled the model of the military wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "It looks fine, but it's too soft."
"She might look soft," replied the Lord. "But she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure."
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation. "There's a leak," she announced. "Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model."
The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of onfidence."What you see is not a leak," He said. "It's a tear." "A tear?" What is it there for?" asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."
"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there."

~Canadian Soldier~

~Canadian Soldier~ Author unknown

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.

Your wife makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair done.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting. You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told.

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep,and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse Gothic.

Auther unknown

Civvy Friends Versus Military Friends

Civvy versus Military Friends

CIVVY FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week
MILITARY FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will Happily carry on the same conversation you were having last time you met.

CIVVY FRIENDS: Never ask for food
MiLITARY FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

CIVVY FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. And Mrs.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Call your parents mum and dad

CIVVY FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was Wrong.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Would be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...we Screwed Up...but that shit was fun!"

CIVVY FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Cry with you.

CIVVY FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.

CIVVY FRIENDS: know a few things about you.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from You.

CIVVY FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds ass that left you.

CIVVY FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"

CIVVY FRIENDS: Are for a while.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Are for life.

CIVVY FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the placeAnd say, "You better drink the rest of that, you know we don't waste... that's Alcohol Abuse!!"

CIVVY FRIENDS: Will talk shit to the person who talks shit about you.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will knock them the hell out!

CIVVY FRIENDS: Will ignore this.
MILITARY FRIENDS: Will forward this

IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS,> PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !!!