Operation Morale Booster – Lethbridge Division
November 3, 2020
Lethbridge Division – Assistance to the Serving Members of The ForceGreetings to all, from Lethbridge Division, RCMP Veteran’s Association, Over the past six months, our Lethbridge Division of the RCMP Veteran’s Association has been involved in morale building with our own Membership, RCMP Detachments in South Eastern Alberta, Canadian Forces Veterans and others. We have completed personal visits to all the detachments in our Division area, as well as a visit to Taber Police Service. The detachment members and support personnel voiced their appreciation to our Veterans for their continued moral support and also their thanks for the Tim’s muffins we brought with us (donuts were too stereotypical). We advised the detachment members, civilian staff and volunteers, that our Division not only support their dedication to their communities but that we have resources that are available to them, to augment those provided by the Force. |
On 20OCT15, Mike Duffy and Ken Taylor met with and welcomed our new Lethbridge Chief of Police, Shahin Mehdizadeh, (RCMP C/Supt. Retired) to the city, and also welcomed both he and his wife (also a retired Member) to join our Division. We also provided him with our Division Challenge Coin***. Our Lethbridge Division and the Lethbridge Police Service Veterans Association socialized, pre-Covid, with an Annual BBQ, that also included local members of the International Police Association. Many IPA members are also members of the LPS VA. John Regier, the IPA area President, is also a member of our Division. Unfortunately, Covid has cancelled our social gatherings for now.
| Our Division also enjoys a strong relationship with the 20th Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, here in Lethbridge. Our Members attend their annual New Year’s Levee and support their community events and programs, as much as possible. A volunteer committee of military veterans has established the Lethbridge Military Museum at the Armouries building, located at the Lethbridge Regional Airport. As part of the museum expansion, their volunteer team has begun a fundraising initiative; building a memorial patio/courtyard to honour local veterans, both past and present, from all branches of service within the Canadian Forces. The stone walkway patio is built in the shape of a poppy. They are selling 9 ½ “ x 6” memorial stones (similar to the Pillars of the Force) to fund both the museum and the patio construction. The Lethbridge Division was proud to support their efforts by purchasing a memorial stone commemorating our Lethbridge Division, and also the role of the Force in wartime and peacekeeping. Mike Duffy, Don Vincent and Ken Taylor attended a recognition ceremony for the placing of our Division stone. We also toured the museum with Ray Romses, (Brigadier General, Canadian Forces, Retired) a coordinator of the Memorial Stone project, along with other volunteers. For those interested in participating in this fundraising effort, you can contact www.lethbridgemilitarymuseum.org . Photos of our visit are attached. |
| A Memorial Stone Order Form is attached should you or someone you know wish to place a Memorial Stone. Members are returning to more modified Safety Meetings at the General Stewart Branch No. 4 of the Royal Canadian Legion, at 3:00 PM, on Wednesday afternoons. The group remains small due to Covid concerns, which has allowed our members to socialize in a controlled environment, following Alberta Health Care guidelines. Our Honour Guard Director is also working with the Legion regarding limited Remembrance Day ceremonies. Most large gatherings to honour Veterans have been cancelled this year. Our members are encouraged to support the Legion’s Poppy Campaign. Unfortunately, due to the current health concerns, our Division has had to cancel our annual Christmas Dinner as well as our meeting in the western area with our Alberta and Saskatchewan Divisions. We remind our Members to review the new National policy regarding online annual membership dues payments, as Annual Dues will no longer be accepted at the local level. We are proud to have supported our local Membership and the community throughout these difficult times, and we will continue to do so. We encourage and thank other Divisions who continue to promote our Veterans, locally and nationally, as well as supporting the members of the Force and the policing and public safety communities at large. We are stronger together. Keep safe. *** there are only 28 Challenge Coins left and once they are gone, that is it. A Coin Information Sheet is attached. Ken Taylor, President RCMP Veteran’s Association |
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