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Royal Canadian Mounted Police
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Board of Directors - News and Views
May 2010
PRESIDENT'S CORNER:
I had a formal invitation from Mr. Brad White, Dominion Secretary of the Royal Canadian Legion, to attend a reception on the 11th of May, 2010, for Her Royal Highness Princess Margreit of the Netherlands and her husband, Professor Pieter von Vollenhoven. Unfortunately I could not attend and I had our Secretary, Alex Geddes and his wife Beverley attend on behalf of my wife Pat and myself.
I understand from Alex that the ceremony took place on a beautiful sunny morning at Legion House in Kanata, Ontario. Music was provided by the Netherlands Royal Air Force Drum Band.
Mr. Wilf Edmund, Legion Dominion President, gave a short address welcoming HRH Princess Margreit and Professor von Vollenhoven. Her Royal Highness responded and once again stated that the people of the Netherlands have never forgotten the day 65 years ago when Canadian Army troops liberated Appledorn and other communities in the Netherlands. To this day school children give praise and recognize Canadians with heartfelt thanks. This is especially heart warming to me as I had a brother who fought with the Canadian Forces in those battles.
Princess Margreit planted a tree on the grounds of Legion House and unveiled a commemorative plaque as a tribute to Canada's Veterans and their role in the liberation. This of course includes some of our members who served in the 1st. Canadian Provost Corps at that time.
Alex had a very interesting discussion with Professor von Vollenhoven about remembrance and his concern that Veterans need to belong to the RCMP Veterans' Association and the Royal Canadian Legion to keep up the legacy of remembrance.
We recently held a National Board of Directors Video Conference to discuss subjects and make decisions for the up coming AGM in Regina. There were a host of subjects and some lively discussion but I think we are ready for the meetings and the socializing.
As I will be leaving the President's office at this AGM this will be my last submission to President's Corner and I would like to thank each and every one of you who supported me during the last two years. Keep up the good work and let's make the Association grow.
Larry Power
Produced by: COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Rick Morris, Immediate Past President and Committee Member