HMCS Fredericton returns home to a celebration - Tridentnews.ca

6 TRIDENT, MAY 17, 2010
Navy welcomes sailors for the next century
By Blake Patterson
Special to the Trident
C
anadian Naval Centennial celebrations
were highlighted
May 4 by aceremony that welcomed
18 new sailors to the Canadian
Navy.
The ceremony took place on the
quarterdeck of HMCS Toronto,
alongside the Maritime Museum of
the Atlantic. RAdm Paul Maddison,
Commander JTFA and MAR-
LANT was the attestation officer
for the ceremony.
RAdm Maddison said the enrolment
was part of an extraordinary
day for the Canadian Navy – aday
that not only marked the 100th anniversary
of the royal assent of the
Naval Service Act on May 4, 1910,
but also the return of Fredericton
and the granting of the Freedom of
the City to MARLANTby the Halifax
Regional Municipality.
RAdm Maddison considered the
enrolment of the new sailors just as
significant.
“We’reherefor anequally if not
more important event,” he said.
“Looking forward to our second
hundred years of service, we welcome
our newest sailors into the navy.”
Ranging in age from 18 to 53, the
new sailors reflect the wide range
of Reserve and Regular Force
recruits attracted by today’s CF.
Some are starting their careers eager
for travel and opportunities,
some are serving to help pay for
university, and others to complete
their careers and add greater meaning
to their working lives.
“I wanted to get back in the
workforce, and I really felt that I
really wanted to serve my country,
and to have that as my last working
days,” said Jacinthe Bennett, 53, a
former cartographer who took time
off to raise her family. “I couldn’t
be more proud. I’m very proud to
be a Canadian.”
Bennett said her family supports
her decision to join the military,
particularly her son who is a first
year cadet at the Royal Military
College inKingston. Her decision
to join was inspired by watching
her son complete the recruit obstacle
course at RMC.
“I went to see his obstacle course
last fall, and I felt very patriotic,”
she said.
Bennett will be a Naval Communicator
in the Naval Reserve and
will commence her basic military
training this June at CFB Borden.
She will then join HMCS Scotian.
RAdm Maddison told the
recruits they will be expected to
build on the Canadian Navy’s first
100 years of proud tradition and
service. He said the Canadian Navy,
from humble beginnings, has
protected Canada’s coasts and maritime
interests through WorldWars
and conflicts around the world. A
role he expects will continuein the
navy’s next century. Whether it’s
fighting piracy and terrorism on the
open seas or responding to people
in need – as was the case inHaiti
following the recent earthquake –
he said the Canadian Navy will
continue to play a vital role.
“As welook to this next century,
I believe it’s acentury that will
come to be known as a maritime
century,” he said.
He said many international tensions
are building, specifically noting
the potential impact of climate
change, the migration of fish
stocks, resources in the Arctic, and
disasters such as the recent oil spill
in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Much of this activity will come
from or find its focus at sea,” he
said. “Your Canadian Navy will be
increasingly required to sail in Canadian
national interests.”
The message was clear as the 18
new sailors swore to “be faithful
and bear true allegiance to Her
Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second,
Queen of Canada, her heirs
and successors according to law.”
“Working hard, working as a
team, that’s what it’s all about,”
said Jeremy Curtis, 18, who enrolled
as Naval Communicator. “I
think I’mgoing to really enjoy it. I
think it’s whereit’s at and I encourage
other people to do it.”
John Watton, 37, of New Glasgow,
left the military while his two
children were young. This fall, now
that his children are older, he decided
to re-enroll. Andbecausehenow
has a Marine Engineering Technology
Diploma from Memorial University,
he receiveda$20,000 signing
bonus.
“At that time it was the right
choice, I don’t regret it, but I
missed it every day,” said Watton,
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RAdm Paul Maddison, Commander JTFA and MARLANT, was the attestation officer for the ceremony.
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adding that his whole family areexcited
they will re-join the military
family. He said it was actually his
wife who suggested –now that the
kids are older – that it might be a
good time to give the military another
try.
“She knew I wouldn’t be happy
anywhere else,” he said.
Watton was scheduled to report
for duty on HMCS Halifax the day
after the enrollment ceremony,
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May 5. He didn’t even havehis new
uniform issued yet.
“I guess I’ll be walking across
the brow with a message in hand
and civies on my back and hoping
to go home in a uniform, I guess.”
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