We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:41:29 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Red Ensign* stands out smartly from the Castle flagstaff today, driven, appropriately enough, by stiff, chill northern wind. Last night, at a touch before 8PM, the Vimy Memorial Vigil started. Simply a cool idea. The other feature of that website are pictures and stories from the survivors. If you have some time - or make some - it's worth perusing. Such as John Affleck: John E. Affleck Born: 1889 Location: Glascow Station,Scotland Died: 1928 Battalion: 9th Canadian Field Ambulance Webcast Tribute time: 1:30 AM EST "April 9/ The 'push' is on. All day dressing the wounded, but going... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html Mon, 09 Apr 2007 06:12:07 -0600 Glad to hear it. It's certainly not insignificant news up here. I just know the U.S. has lost so many more, I thought I'd try to give some context. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58718 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58718 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:17:24 -0600 John's right. It's NEVER small potatoes when soldiers die. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58716 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58716 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:59:11 -0600 Oh, and it's *never* small potatoes at Castle Argghhh!. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58696 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58696 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:52:17 -0600 April is not a good month for you guys. And we haven't helped in that regard. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58695 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58695 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:43:53 -0600 I know it will sound like small potatoes to a mostly American audience, but the six soldiers killed on April 8th, 2007 represent Canada's worst single-day combat losses since May 1953. We seem to have an awful connection to bloody Easters. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58694 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58694 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:35:56 -0600 Yeah, covered that in the H&I, AFSis. Thought I'd let this one stay about Vimy. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58691 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58691 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:12:10 -0600 6 Canadians were killed in AFG over the weekend. *sigh*]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58681 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58681 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:48:19 -0600 "Taps" come from. Now I can dutifully catalogue it in my ever-increasing pile of useless yet interesting knowledge.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58673 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58673 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:23:33 -0600 Thanks, John. As always, you're a class act. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58672 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58672 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:22:17 -0600 The tradition of the final bugle call of the day signalling the end of the soldier's day dates back to the 17th century when the British Army was on campaign in the Netherlands. There was already a Dutch custom in existance called Taptoe. This was a signal at the end of the day to shut off the beer barrel taps and the name comes from the Dutch "Doe den tap toe" - "turn the tap off". The Dutch Army is a rather unique institution, no? ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58669 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/for_our_northro.html#comment-58669 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 08:45:30 -0600