I am a bit late getting in here with a comment. But I was filled with pride the day before Canada Day when the GGFG mounted teh Guard of Honour at the Cenotaph. It is an embarassment that it took almost 70 years but....I was the fellow who tried to get some action a year ago before Canada Day 2006. The previous year i had seen people sitting on the Tomb and I and a few others took it upon ourselves to tell people what the Tomb represents. i sent out 11 e-mails to various Politicios and administrative suits to no avail, in mid June 2006 I again sent out e-mails with my concerns.
I had three proposals, a security presence to keep the drunks at bay, a cordon to help in this and an information set up of some sort to inform people what the Cenotaph and the Tomb represent...sad as it seems many are not awares...
Last year my now famous pictures of the three pissoires...made international headlines. i received e-mail and calls from the US , Australia and the Netherlands...all expressing shock at the incident. A few former Army buddies also contacted me offering support...Sadly not one member of the present CF or my former branch the Dental Corps, offered any support....too busy working on careers i suppose
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The past year i have been active on the phone and the net trying to interest the politicians and Ottawa administrators , in setting up a security system worthy of teh Cenotaph. One call to the minstry of Heritage resulted in my finding out that the assigment had been given to a sumemr student...the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs told me that if I were to set up an information booth on my own I would be fined and it would be torn down...and those were the "positive " responses...it was a game of Pass the buck for a year.
Ten days before Canada Day someone from Pubic Works called to tell me that they were hiring "security" for Canada Day...I replied somewhat sardonically , "Oh like a used car lot ?" ...silence....I added "If you do not have a proper military and Police presence for Canada Day it will be a slap in the face of all Canadians.
Apparently two days before Canada Day teh Governor generals' Foot Guard were assigned the duty of Honour Guard...it has been an immense success. it is a tourist attraction and a source of information.
there are a few suggestions i could make but no one would listen...an information booth is a must, people do not know what the site it. On occasion I have ventured by, one embarassing moment was talking to some British tourists, they were very impressed with the Guard of Honour and asked how long it had been a part of the Cenotaph . I had to say rather shamedly , "Two days..."
On Canada night next year the police will probably block off Wllington street to keep the drunks out, and i suggest more cordons...
An Autralian friend read about it in a local paper and asked if i had been given the keys to the city...i don;t expect anything from this but a thank you from politiicans has not been fothcoming. Myown Ottawa South MP and MPP the McGuinty brothers have been silent, I called the mayor several times in June trying to get something going and again no response...One MP Royal Gallipeau came to my dental office and actually gave me a hug...man I was really appreciative...my dad was a vet ( AFC) an uncle was a POQW another wounded....these are the guys i did it for...but the politicos could have shown a bit of class and acted on this...it was a slam dunk.
Colour me cynical...but I now feel they work for themselves first and that 5 year pension,. then the party..and they dare not vote against the party..then if there is time maybe the constituents..
Mike
www.drmichaelpilon.com