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Retired Peacekeepers Forge Friendship

By 250 News

The Canadian Peacekeeping Monument by Jack Harman in Ottawa

It seems fitting that one day after Canadian Peacekeepers ended their 32-year presence in Golan Heights (click here for story), a local group plans to launch the Prince George and Northern B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Association of Veterans of Peacekeeping.

Bob Whipps says five charter members began meeting in January and the group has since grown to 12, including individuals from Bear Lake, Mackenzie, and Fort St. James.  He expects at least another 12 members may sign up, with interest being expressed from as far away as Dawson Creek.

The local chapter's official launch goes this morning at 11am at the Royal Canadian Legion on 7th Avenue.

Whipps says the initial members are starting to "meld together" and enjoy the comraderie.  He believes the local association will fill a need, pointing out the age differences and differences in situation between peacekeepers and WWII vets.

Whipps, himself a veteran of the Korean War, served on several peacekeeping missions in Cypress in the mid-1960's and on the 1973 Armistice Commission in Korea.  He says the dangers of peacekeeping are often less clear-cut than during wartime when enemies are more easily identified.

"There is no uniform, except yours, so you don't know who is friendly and who is not," says the retired peacekeeper, "We've had to handle some atrocities."

But he points out there is another, more uplifting, side to missions that many here at home never hear about, and that's the work the peacekeepers do in their spare time taking on local projects like schools and orphanages.  Whipps says it's a tradition that began in, and has carried on from, Korea, with peacekeepers doing repairs and gathering necessities like medical supplies and clothing.

"That's what our Canadian Peacekeepers do, they're not just there to fight people, they're there to help and that's our attitude, we just do it without a second thought."

It seems to be the Canadian way.

Anyone wishing to find out more information can phone Bob Whipps at 964-9507.


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