“The wall of honour, in many respects, is the ultimate validation of what RMCC is striving to accomplish – training and educating great leaders for future service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the nation.”
BGen Al Meinzinger – Wall of Honour ceremony – 27 September 2014
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Over-Flowing Crowd At Wall of Honour
By 27019 NCdt (II) Cloé Baillargeon and various other sources
As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI, the inauguration of 749 Honourable General H.D.G. Crerar PC, CH, CB, DSO, CD, a hero of WWI and WWII, as well as 13738 Colonel Chris A. Hadfield OOnt, CD, MSC. first Canadian to become Commander of the International Space Station, in 2013, on the Wall of Honour reminds us all, cadets and ex-cadets, of the true meaning of the values Truth, Duty, Valour, transmitted through this Institution that we are attending or did attend.
The ceremony, held on sat afternoon of Reunion weekend, meant to honour these two great men who, after attending military college, went on to reshape Canadian history. General Crerar entered and graduated from RMC; while Chris Hadfield entered Royal Roads and graduated from RMC.
Chris Hadfield entered the Wall of Honour area from the intersection of Verite and Precision where a Piper in scarlets awaited him. The Piper piped the famous former astronaut and other dignitaries to the Wall and their designated seats.
Mr. Tony Palmer, grandson of General Crerar, unveiled the plaque honouring his grandfather. The inscription reads Soldier, WW I Field Commander, WW II Commander of the Canadian Army, Diplomat which describes perfectly the career of a man whose influence as been praised by historian 5105 J.L. Granatstein, as “No other single officer had such impact on the raising, fighting, and eventual disbanding of the greatest army Canada has ever known.”
The unveiling of Colonel Chris Hadfield’s plaque which profoundly illustrates the character of an Aviator and Astronaut Extraordinaire. Colonel Hadfield’s speech gave way to a special presentation by the President of the Canadian Space Agency, 12320 General (ret) Walt Natynczyk and 21364 Major Jeremy Hansen.
The RMC Club took the opportunity to bestow Honourary lifetime memberships to both Chris Hadfield and Walt Natynczyk.
The ceremony was beautifully conducted by 26015 OCdt Justin Hanlon who was supported by 26399 OCdt Alex Popa and 26624 OCdt Marc-Antoine Pelletier.
Special acknowledgements must be given to Naval Captain (retired) 5877 Ted Davie – Class of 1963, Wall of Honour Co-coordinator and Captain Melissa Simoneau, RMCC WoH Co-coordinator; both of whom had a 1001 details to sort out; many at the last minute which ensured a first class ceremony.
A more comprehensible biography of the inductees can be found here : https://everitas.rmcalumni.ca/?p=117642