Category Archives: 50th Anniversary

DCO’s Corner – We’re Back!

Welcome back, 809. After a long absence it looks like we’re on the verge of doing in person training once again. So, make sure your hair is cut, your uniform fits and your boots are polished cause here we go.  

So,  as always, here are some important dates in history for this week (and also from earlier this past summer): 

1/ September 11, 2001 – 911 20th Anniversary

(From the Canadian Armed Forces facebook page)
September 11, 2001 will always be remembered as a day of tragedy, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives, including 24 Canadians. But it was also a day when Canadians demonstrated the kindness, generosity and resilience of the human spirit.
In the aftermath of the deadly attacks, Canada activated Operation Yellow Ribbon to divert flights and clear the airspace throughout Canada.
The town of Gander, Newfoundland, was a key part of the efforts. Thirty-eight flights and nearly 6,600 passengers were diverted to 9 Wing Gander, which handled security, transportation, telecommunications, and the unloading of aircraft. Meanwhile, Residents of the town also jumped into action and helped in any way they could. They donated food, provided bedding, created shelters, and even welcomed passengers into their homes.
In 2016, New Yorkers thanked the residents of Gander for their help and gifted the town with a piece of steel from the World Trade Center’s south tower. Passengers also donated their mementos from Gander to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
20 years after 9/11 – #WeRemember. We will #NeverForget

May be an image of airplane and sky

2/ Battle of Britain Sunday – Sunday, September 18

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” – Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, 20 August, 1940

Every year, on the third Sunday of September,  the RCAF celebrates Battle of Britain Sunday to commemorate the victory over the Luftwaffe in the skies of England.    We also recognize the loss of Canadian lives during the conflict.     It was a great moment for our Air Force. 

More information regarding the origins of the Battle of Britain ceremony can be found at this link:

  The origins of the Battle of Britain ceremony – Skies Mag

3/ CJCR Has a new Commander – Welcome Brigadier-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet

809 Sqn would like to welcome Air Force Brigadier-General Jamie Spieser-Blanchet as the new commander of the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers.  General Spieser-Blanchet assumed command on June 30, 2021 from outgoing commander, Navy Commodore Josee Kurtz.  To Commodore Kurtz, good luck in your new assignment as  Commandant and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). 

That’s all for this week.   For the instructors, see you all virtually on Wednesday.    For everyone else, I hope to see you during your uniform exchanges.     

2Lt Couroux.

Anniversary Pin Competition

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of 809 Newark Squadron and the 80th anniversary of the Air Cadet program in Canada. There will be a number of observations throughout the year, culminating with the mass Annual Ceremonial Review ceremony for all nine Niagara squadrons on 5 Jun 2021.

One of the first things we’ll be doing is submitting a design for an anniversary pin to be worn on cadet uniforms, the guidelines for which can be found below:

Commemorative Pins

Per the “Commemorative Pins” section on page 3-4-1 of the CJCR Dress Instructions of 2019.

  1. Submissions and recommendations on commemorative pins including the wear of pins shall be formally presented to the Clothing and Dress Committee by the Regional CWOs through the chain of command. They are to be produced at no cost to the public to commemorate special occasions such as the anniversary of a corps, squadron, CTC or particular activities.
  2. Commemorative pins can only be worn on the left pocket of the shirt or jacket, as illustrated at Annex I.
  3. Corps or squadron anniversary. The corps or squadron anniversary pins are worn for a one (1) year period in which the anniversary is celebrated. They are not worn at the CTC and are to be worn on the jacket only.

Competition

Cadets who are interested in submitting a pin design for the squadron’s 50th anniversary should do so no later than the 15 April 2020 training night. This will give us approximately one month to choose a design, submit it to Comd Natl CJCR Sp Gp for approval and receive a response.

The final design will be unveiled at the Annual Ceremonial Review on 30 May 2020. An order will then be placed for 2.5cm x 2.5cm metal pins to be distributed in September for wear during the 2020-2021 training year.

Please contact me with any questions you may have.

J. Lemoine
Captain
Commanding Officer
809 Newark RCACS
Immortal!