More than 600 retired members of the Royal Canadian Regiment came together in Kingston this weekend, marking the 135th reunion of the oldest formal Canadian military force.
Veterans and current soldiers got the chance to bridge the gap between past and present at multiple events over the weekend.
Rusty Bassarab, president of the Royal Canadian Regiment’s Kingston branch, says veterans can sometimes feel like they lose a connection to the regiment without these events.
“There’s a lot of feeling (that) it’s not what it was like when we were there, and that’s true no matter what generation it is. But I think they get a chance to find yes, it’s different, but they’re still doing valuable things on behalf of the country all over the world.”
For instance, tools used in combat have changed dramatically over the past 135 years. At the event, soldiers old and new had the opportunity to connect over advances in military equipment and technology.
“What we’ve seen is ex-members of the regiment had certain equipment in their day, and they’re interested in seeing how we are tackling similar problems with more modern equipment in this day and age,” says Sgt. Mark Panfili of the RCR 3rd Battalion’s Oscar Company.
Outgoing Colonel of the Regiment Maj.-Gen. James Ivan Fenton says that bringing together generations is the key to keeping traditions alive.
“I try to go out and visit retired members … to build these links between today’s serving soldiers of the Royal Canadian Regiment and those who have served in the past.”
The Right Honourable David Johnston, former governor general and Fenton’s successor, echoes this sentiment.
“Those histories, those stories, those traditions are very important and they build, most of all, the concept of trust. (It’s the) glue that holds a regiment together, that holds a platoon together, and that holds a society together, that holds a country together.”
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