Huron Expositor, 2009-07-01, Page 10. . .
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. Page 10 The Huron Expositor • July 1, 2009
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Glass Tiger entertains Canadian troops in Afghanistan
Wayne Parker, of Staffa's SkyShed Observatories, brings his solar scope to frontline
Hilary Long
441=11=1*
• SkyShed Obsefvatories Owner/De-
signer Wayne Parker travelled to Af-
ghanistan with his 1980s Canadian
rock band Glass Tiger to meet with
and entertain coalition troops.
Parker, a Staffa resident, carried a
PST solar scope everywhere he went
and whenever possible set the scope
up to show the sun to troops.
"It was great," Parker said of be -
mg able to show the troops the sun.
"Many of them have laboured under
that hot sun for months or years
without being able to look at it. They
got a big kick from being able to look
straight at the sun and see its fea-
tures and solar flares in a solar tele-
scope for a change."
Parker noted never to look at the
sun with the un -aided eye.
He said, "We were honored and
thankful for the privilege to spend
•" time with frontline troops, and hope-
fully bring a little bit of home and a
- momentary repose to their lives, if
only for a aloft' time. Ourphilosophy
the band isthat no one who's sane
supports war, but we have to sup-
port our mer i and women whO are
out there fighting for freedom."
Glass Tiger, a lbronto-based band,
was invited to visit Afghanistan by
the Canadian military as part of a
Team Canada program that sees Ca-
nadian entertainers and former NHL
submitted photo
Wayne Parker (above), a member of 1911Q's band Glass..Tiger and Staffa-area
retumed from entertaining the troops in Afghanistan.
hockey players provide a positive
morale boost to the soldiers serving
there. •
"Our mission was to lift the soldiers'
spirits for even a few brief moments,
to show them Canada still cares, and
to learn firsthand about what they
are trying -W. -accomplish in Afghani-
stan,7 said keyboardist Sam Reid.
"It was a very proud feeling (to
be there). The Canadians soldiers
conduct themselves in a highly pro-
fessional manner and are caring of
the Afghan people and their plight.
Our soldiers aren't simply making
time there,. they are trying to make a
great difference for the people," said
Parker.
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• He added,
"Even though
there are over 20
nations repre-
sented at the KAF
base, as a General
said to me, 'It's
the Americans,
the. British, and
the Canadians
who are doing the
fighting and dy-
ing', along with
the local Afghan
troops, who the
Canadian soldiers
told us were fear-
less in battle and
higHly motivat-
ed."
"This is the
very least we can
do for our gallant
troops. Glass Tiger
has a long history
of performing for
Canadian troops
and, also raising
money for chari-
ties, both of which
we are very proud
to do. We feel ob-
ligated to help out
where and when
we can," Parker
said. -
Prior to their departure from Otta-
wa, the members of Glass Tiger met
with General Walt Natynczyk, Chief
of Defense Staff, who then accompa-
nied the band throvhout the trip.
After their military flight to Af-
ghanistan, the band visited several
camps, touring the facilities, meet-
ing not just the soldiers, but local •
children, the police force and Afghan
military
They performed impromptu for sol-
diers serving literally on the front
lines as well as at the main base, and
presented a signed guitar to Briga-
dier General Jon Vance for 'Canada
House,' the social meeting place for
the troops.
The visit of Glass Tiger and 13
NHL alumni coincided with the toss
of three courageous Canadian sol-
diers in Afghanistan.
After entertaining the troops with
a set that fittingly included their
international hit "Don't Forget Me
(When I'm Gone)," the ---hand attend=
ed the ramp ceremony to farewell
the three departed heroes.
"By far the most moving experience
was a ramp ceremony at night on the
KAF tarmac for three fallen Canadi-
an soldiers. What made it more mov-
ing was that we went from the high
of performing in front of thousands
of troops, immediately to the tarmac
minutes later, where we stood shoul-
der to shoulder with the same troops
that had been in the concert audi-
ence," said Parker.
"We were all standing at atattention
as the caskets were brought out and
carried into the Hercules transport.
We went from a happy high to a very
solemn low in just a few minutes. Lit-
erally. We were still wet with stage
sweat as we stood in the cold of the
chilly night desert air, and the piper
followed the caskets to the transport.
We will not forget that night. We felt
deeply sorry for the fallen soldiers
comrades and families," he said.
Parker added, "What you don't see
on TV is that there are 2,500 troops
from many countries standing at at-
tention in silence as the ceremony
takes place.. It's a great show of re-
spect for fallen comrades. I'm sorry
that they have to,repeat the ceremo-
ny so often."
To Reid, this visit "brought the re-
alization that our soldiers are there
to make improvements in the basic
quality of life for these people. We
were in a place where a handful of
little girls who get a chance to go to
school are routinely punished or tor-
tured for learning. Canadians have
a long history of helping humans
,around the world, and here- they are
again in Afghanistan."
See GLASS, Page 18 -4.