Military, family members count on support

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Showing support for Canada’s deployed military personnel and their families is easy to do, says Michelle Thibodeau, coordinator of special events for the Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre.

“There are lots of ways (the public) can let them know they are thinking of them,” says Thibodeau, including wearing red on Fridays.

“It is certainly one of the most visible ways and it doesn’t cost a cent, but the gesture and the thought behind it are what is important.”

October 9, the GMFRC hosted a Red Friday barbecue and community walk to celebrate National Family Week and “embrace what makes military families unique,” said GMFRC executive director Margaret Reid. The centre, she added, is all about “helping military families make connections that strengthen their families.” A variety of programs and services are available to military families through the MFRC on an as-needed basis.

“We are here to support families and prepare them for deployment in the way that works best for them,” Reid said. “A prepared family is a strong family.”

14 Wing Greenwood currently has 90 members deployed in the Middle East. An additional 100 will be deployed in early December as part of the base’s Mission Support Squadron.