Maroon Beret Magazine - Summer 2008 has arrived.  It has been prepared and is ready to be mailed to ARAC and CAFA members and will be mailed on the 12th of November 2008.

Memoriam:  Another jumper has passed away.  CWO (Rt’d) BC ( Robbie)  Robinson MMM, CD, on the 6 Nov 08.  He was a great friend and one of the finest soldier’s we have ever known.  His service to his country was second to none.   He proudly served most of his career as an Airborne paratrooper with 1 Can Para which he jumped on D-Day and on the Rhine in WW 11, Jump Companies and with 2 CDO as RSM,  AB Regt in Edmonton.  

He will be sadly missed by all who have known him. Condolences may be sent to his wife Marjorie at:  margrc266@rogers.com or leave a message on line at www.longworthfuneralhome.com .  There will be no funeral service as requested by BC.

Left: the artist Roger Chabot presenting signed print of Operation Varsity to BC Robinson who had won it at the 39th Birthday Celebration of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, 24 March 2007.

Memoriam:  It is with great sadness that the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada (ARAC) learned of the passing of  (ex CWO) Capt Langis Hudon after a lengthy battle with cancer.  He served as a Trucker with AB Svc Coy  in 76 – 78.  He proudly served with the AB Regt in Edmonton and moved with Regt in Petawawa.    

See entry on Manifest for update information on funeral service.

New England, Chapter IX, 173 Airborne Brigade......has put our site as a link on their website and has also included a link to our site in their newsletter...to view and enjoy  their latest newsletter and all previous newsletters go to this link [ newsletter ]

Memoriam:  Another jumper has passed away.  Please see the Manifest for information regarding John Northwood of Edmonton, Alberta.  Both John and Pat were original members of CAR.  Lest we forget!

Memoriam:  It is with regret that we inform the airborne community that Pat Eagar residing in Petawawa, Ontario has passed away.  See more information on the Manifest.

New Link from our American Friends.....New England, Chapter IX, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Annual General Meeting and Christmas Dinner, Rideau Canal WO's and Sgt's Mess, Ottawa, Ontario.  Saturday the 24th of November.  .....click [ here ] for more information.  Call Marlene at 819-568-6669 for Dinner Reservations.  All airborne members, family and friends are encouraged to attend.

Warrior's Day Parade in Toronto, August 16th ........for more information [ click here ].  The parade route and other activities are identified on the home page for the event.  Jan DeVries of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion is helping to coordination all paras to march together in the parade.  E-mails can go to him at jjdevries@sympatico.ca

Retirement luncheon for Phil Sipley, AB HQ&Sigs and CABC, Canadian Airborne Regiment, Cyprus 1974 and curator of RCOC Museum in Montreal.....See manifest for more information.  After 40 years he has decided to retire. 

2008 - CAFA/ARAC Bursary Programme..... The $1,000 dollar 1st  award goes to Zachary Townend, son of Lt Col Guy (Pudge) Townend "Signals", ex Canadian Airborne Regiment. Zachary will be attending McGill University this fall, entering a program of studies in International Business.   $500 dollar 2nd award. Through the generous donations of Airborne Brothers: Angus Read, former CO 28 COD; Wm "Sam" Magee, FSSF; Peter "Scotty" Hunter, Parachute Regiment; Mike St George, 82nd Abn Div; and Art McRae, 82nd Abn Div; an additional sum of $500 dollars was awarded. The $500 dollar award goes to Miss Tara Jones, granddaughter of Mervin F Jones, 1 Can Para Bn. Miss Jones will be commencing second year studies in Veterinary Medicine, University of Guelph. Airborne.
 

2008 - CAFA/ARAC Bursary Programme....$1000.00 scholarship to be awarded to deserving student.....[ click here ] for more information.  Time is limited.  Due date for applications is 30 June 2008.

New Mailing Address:  Effective 15 February 2008 the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada will be moving [ click here ]

NEW.... French SAS Paratrooper Prayer.....[ click here ]

Petition.....to the Province of Ontario to permit Veteran's license plates for motorcycles.....[ click here ]...manifest item #056

New Link ......Royal Canadian Military Academy   See also note from the CO on the manifest page....[ click here ]...manifest item #055

New Link ......Photo-blog (CFB Griesbach)   See also note from Ray Giroux on the manifest page....[ click here ]...manifest item #054

NEW...... Links Page re-design.....[ click here ]

"JUMPERS GET READY"

Come and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Airborne Regiment hosted by the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada (ARAC).  12 April 2008.

Look forward to seeing you and until then "Fair winds and Soft landings".   

Come and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Airborne Regiment hosted by the Airborne Social Club, Edmonton, Alberta.  19-21 June 2008.

Click [ here ] for more information.

Annual General Meeting and Annual Airborne Memorial Weekend hosted by the Canadian Airborne Forces Association of Canada (CAFA).  23-25 May 2008.

Click [ here ] for more information

New Book.......The Bulletproof Flag, written by BGen Clay Beattie and Mike Baxendale.  Click [ here ] for more information.  Here at last is the extraordinary account of the 1974 Turkish invasion if Cyprus and the war that followed. It details the behind the scenes political intrigue, the multi-national UNFICYP peacekeeping contingents, and the actions of the remarkable men of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. It is told, as only he could tell it, by the man that was on the ground as both UN Chief of Staff and Commander of the Canadian Contingent.  Much of what you will read in this book has never before been told and certainly not with the bullet-by-bullet impact of Clay Beattie’s The Bulletproof Flag.

Published in the Ottawa Citizen, Tuesday, 16 October, 2007

Col Pat Stogran is a former member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment and currently the Vice President of our Association.

Congratulations on your appointment!

New Photos.....Tommy Prince......Click [ here ] to see the photos.

Annual General Meeting and Christmas Dinner, Rideau Canal WO's and Sgt's Mess, Ottawa, Ontario.  Saturday the 24th of November.  Guest speaker is Gen (ret'd) Maurice Baril.  .....click [ here ] for more information.  Call Marlene at 819-568-6669 for Dinner Reservations.  All airborne members, family and friends are encouraged to attend.

May 2007

◄New left menu link......KIT SHOP PROMOTIONS.......Magazines, Newspaper articles, Poster, 40th Anniversary Knife and 40th Anniversary Coin

New Photos.....Regimental Colours......Click [ here ] to see the photos.

New Photos.....39th Annual Birthday Dinner and celebration of OP Varsity 24 March 1945......Click [ here ] to see the photos. 

April 2007

1^st Annual Airborne Memorial Parade and Dinner, Dinner at the Reichwald WOs' & Sgts' Mess, CFB Petawawa, ON.  Memorial Parade at the Wall of Wings, Canadian Airborne Forces Museum, Saturday the 2^nd – Sunday the 3^rd June 2007.  On the occasion of the 1st Annual Airborne Memorial Parade and Dinner, all former and current paratroopers are invited to pay their respects and give tribute to all paras (from 1 Can Para Bn, FSSF and to the present time) so that we never forget those who have died while serving as Canadian paratroopers.  All airborne members, family and friends are encouraged to attend this special event......click [ here ] for more information.  Call Marlene at 819-568-6669 for Dinner Reservations.

New Photos.....Cyprus 1974, photos of Claude Gratton Click on the maroon title.

New......Our Troops, by Chuck Colpitts, click on red title.

New.....New Poppy Fields, by T.F. Lazaroff, click on red title.

March 2007

New.......Why I wear red on Friday, by Earl McRae.  Reprinted with permission, click on red title.

New.........Branch 5, Petawawa, Ontario of the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada has a new website......view it [ here ].

New .........List of Senior Regimental Appointments, Canadian Airborne Regiment

Appointment to the Order of Canada as Member, Mr. Jan De Vries, 1 Can Para Bn

On February 20, 2007,  Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced  89 new appointments to the Order of Canada.  It is with great pleasure that we learned  that  Mr Jan de Vries, President from 1 Can Para will be awarded at later date the Order of Canada as Member. On behalf of the ARAC and the Airborne Brotherhood, we would like to extend our congratulations for a well deserved and prestigious award.

February 2007

39th Annual Birthday Dinner and celebration of OP Varsity 24 March 1945.   Rideau Canal WO’s and SGT’s Mess, 4 Queen Elizabeth Drive on the 24th of March 2007.  Call Marlene at 819-568-6669 for Reservations.....click [ here ] for more information.

RCMI Airborne Luncheon, Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto

40th Anniversary Canadian Airborne Regiment Commemorative Jump Knife   The Airborne Regiment Association of Canada is pleased to offer you a special commemorative jump knife to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Canadian Airborne Regiment on the 8th of April 1968.

January 2007

Cyprus......History

Bravery Decorations......Cyprus and up to the present.

New Link......Canadian Airborne Brotherhood

New Link.....Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

New left menu link......Membership in ARAC.

Updated Calendar for 2007.....see left menu.