Airborne Regiment
Association of Canada

ARAC will be conducting a Memorial Service at Wegner Point, CFB Petawawa on Sunday the 07 May 2006 in commemoration of the fatal drowning that occurred in 1968 when seven of the members of the then newly formed Airborne Regiment met their untimely death by drowning in the Ottawa River during a parachute drop.

We are expecting a good number of relatives present at the memorial service. Needless to say, numerous past members of the Regiment who were on that drop will also be in attendance. During the ceremony, it is our intention to dedicate a number of wreaths in memory of our departed paratroopers. Present and former members of the Royal Canadian Regiment and former members of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals will be laying wreaths.

General Maurice Baril, former CDS, will be our honoured guest and Padre Gerry Peddle, former Chaplain General, of the Canadian Forces will be conducting the memorial service. Colonel Mike Barr (ret'd) who was on that Para drop will be the Parade Commander. The service will begin at 1430 hrs. A reception is planned at the Petawawa Legion following the service.

We encourage you to invite your family and friends to attend the ceremony.

Please forward this invitation to all those who may be interested.

Thursday, May 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

38^th ANNIVERSARY FOR FALLEN PARATROOPERS

(Wegner Point, CFB PETAWAWA) – The Airborne Regiment Association of Canada (ARAC) will hold a memorial service at the Memorial Cairn, Wegner Point, CFB Petawawa, at 1430 hrs, Sunday May 7, 2006, to honour the seven paratroopers who drowned during a Para drop exercise on May 8, 1968.

Family and friends will attend the service in memory of:

Master Warrant Officer R.J. Riddell, Warrant Officer P.M. McDonnell,

Corporals D.W. Clements, D.H. Fields, R.J.G. Knight, B.N. Chriswell, and P.J. Mesener.

Colonel Mike Barr, one of the jumpers in the second aircraft on that fateful day, is commanding the 38^th anniversary parade.

Padre Gerry Peddle, former Chaplain General for the Canadian Forces and current Chaplain for ARAC, will lead the service. Honoured guest at this year’s ceremony will be General Maurice Baril, former Chief of Defense Staff for the Canadian Forces.

Media representatives and members of the general public are invited to attend a reception to be held at the Petawawa Legion.

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For further information contact:

Mike La Pierre

President ARAC

613 995 7584 Cell 816-3406

Phil Nolan

Director of Communications, ARAC

819 459 1222 Cell 665-5883

Tom Murphy

Petawawa contact

613 687 5967