Firmly we fly

June 13, 2013 · 0 Comments

The sky’s the limit for Squadron 164 of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets of Shelburne as Saturday, June 8th marked the 38th Annual Ceremonial Review of 2013.

Held at the local Royal Canadian Legion, the room brimmed with the proud parents and families of young cadets receiving awards a year in the making, noting their accomplishments and acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

Commanding Officer, Captain Don Houle had this to say, “I would like to thank the cadets of the 164 Squadron and all of the town of Shelburne for another outstanding year of community support.”

These young, dedicated and disciplined cadets participated in a number of events and exercises over the year including parade nights, overnight Range, Biathlon Day, two field training exercises, and a successful Propwash. Specialty teams went on to compete and while both Drill and Biathlon teams placed very well, the entire squadron won six awards in this years’ Annual Air Cadet Activity Day.

Assistant Training Officer, Lieutenant Bonnie Hynes commented, “This is the most wonderful opportunity for the youth of today. Kids learn respect, discipline, they do better in school, and they become better people.”

Who knows this better than Lieutenant –Colonel James Hawthorne, this year’s Reviewer and shining example of what hard work and determination can accomplish. Having been an air cadet with 164 in Shelburne, Hawthorne’s career is both extensive and impressive, and in December of 1999, he got his wings. Promoted to major in 2008, Hawthorne was deployed in February 2009 off the east Coast of Africa where he received the Commander Canadian Expeditionary Force Command Commendation for him and his detachments’ role in thwarting pirate attacks in the Gulf of Arden. Hawthorne is now posted to 12 Wing Shearwater Nova Scotia as the Wing Operations Officer responsible for the Canadian Forces Sea King Operations around the world.

Modest in his long list of accomplishments, Hawthorne is more than pleased to be among the fine young cadets of today. “It just great to be back with a squadron with such a background, creating future leaders for Canada,” said Hawthorne. Addressing the cadets during Hawthorne’s speech he had this to say, “This is a little town with a lot of great people who do a lot of great things. I’m immensely proud of you. You will go on to do great things. Keep on with the tradition. You all have done a fantastic job this year and you will continue to do so for many years to come.”

Ordinary Seaman, Will Bentley, would agree with that sentiment having been a cadet for seven years and is now a Marine Electrician in the Navy, posted in Halifax Regular Forces sailing on the prestigious Her Majesty Canadian Ship Preserver. The Bentley name is no stranger to the 164 Squadron as the entire Bentley family has participated in this great endeavour well over the course of twenty years.

Awards given out in today’s ceremony included, Best Recruit Male, Best Recruit Female, Best Dressed Male, Best Dressed Female, Most Improved Cadet, Initiative Award, Air Rifle Marksmen, Most Improved Piper, Most Improved Drummer, Most Enthusiastic Cadet, Best LAC Award, Jr. NCO Award, Drill Award, Sports Award, Flying Scholarship, Aviation Careers, and the Dixon Award.

Founded in 1975 by Captain Burbank, Shelburne’s 164 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron was inspired by the 164 Halton-Dufferin Overseas Battalion station in CFB Borden during WW1. Their motto was adopted from the Argentine British Squadron of the 164 Royal Air force. “Firmes Volamos” translated, means, “Firmly We Fly.”

Since its inception, over fifteen hundred cadets have passed through the doors of Shelburne Branch 220, and in keeping with their motto, ‘Firmly We Fly,’ every Cadet in the 164 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron today plans to do just that!

By Alex Sher