By Christopher di Armani
Cheryl Gallant support for Canada’s military families predates being elected to public office. In the late 1990’s Ms. Gallant joined other volunteers at the Pembroke Kinette Club to assemble invisible ribbons in advance of their annual fundraising campaign. It was here, at these volunteer sessions, Cheryl first learned of the difficulties faced by military spouses. The stories she heard were the genesis for what would become the Enduring Spouse Pin.
She met a young woman, the wife of a soldier recently deployed.
Men get medals for their bravery, service and self-sacrifice, but we’re left to fend for ourselves, the young wife and mother related. We can’t even discuss the fact our husbands are deployed due to operational secrecy and security.
Her sense of isolation, separation and solitude, heightened by the secrecy surrounding her husband’s job as a special forces soldier, touched Cheryl deeply.
Cheryl Gallant became a tireless advocate for increased federal support for Canada’s largest military base, CFB Petawawa, specifically, and Canada’s military, in general. But her support doesn’t stop with base and military personnel funding. It extends well beyond, to the spouses and families of our brave military service men and women.
After her election in 2000, she researched how the government could officially recognize the value of our nation’s military spouses. She discovered, to her horror, the process of creating an official medal was long and slow, and could take over a decade to come to fruition.
That timeline was unacceptable. When she learned how slowly the wheels of government moved, she took the matter into her own hands and commissioned a pin to honour the spouses of deployed military personnel.
The Enduring Spouse Pin, designed by local artist Randy Chester, became Cheryl’s way to show support directly to those who needed it most – the spouses left behind – to recognize their dedication, devotion and sacrifice on behalf of our military and our nation.
This pin recognises the work and contribution of a Canadian Forces spouse, said Gallant.
When she hears of a struggling military spouse, be it at a riding event or in passing, Cheryl Gallant requests the assistance of a paramedic, a legion member, or a veteran, to present the pin to the spouse. The person assisting her wears their uniform and, with white gloves holding an ornate black and gold braided pillow bearing the Enduring Spouse Pin, they visit the spouse at their home to present the pin.
As Cheryl Gallant pins the medal to their lapel, she explains the significance of the pin and thanks them for their service.
Please accept this pin as my recognition of your sacrifice in the service of our country. You will note the adult figure’s arm becomes that of the child’s, signifying the bond between loved ones. The leg of the adult becomes the root of the tree as a reminder that, even though he’s away home he is with his loved ones. The roses represent his love
for you and the pin is in the shape of a teardrop for the many that are shed during his deployment. A grateful nation salutes you.
Tears flow and are self-consciously wiped away. A teary-eyed, Thank you from the recipient, overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude at finally being recognized, is Ms. Gallant’s reward.
Sometimes she presents the pin on the spur of the moment, but she prefers the formality of her unofficial ceremony, believing it adds meaning to the presentation.
Although she gave the pin to military spouses in the riding for years, it wasn’t until Oct. 5, 2007, that Cheryl Gallant issued an official press release announcing the Enduring Spouse Pin to the rest of Canada.
It is not enough to say “thank you’ to the many spouses of Canadian Forces personnel who must keep home and family going while their husband or wife is deployed to distant and hostile locales like Afghanistan.
Spouses contribute in so many ways yet are rarely recognized for doing so. They too must sacrifice for the sake of the military and for Canada. It is time that we recognized this contribution and this sacrifice.
When Canada first deployed troops to Afghanistan in September, 2001, Cheryl Gallant encouraged constituents to send a Valentine greeting to serving Canadian Forces members overseas through a Valentine message tear-out included with the information bulletin she sent to all residents of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.
In April 2012, The Hill Times poll rated her second Best Conservative Constituency MP in the nation, behind Tony Clement.
In the spring of 2014, Cheryl Gallant, in collaboration with Gwen Greenstock of Fifth Avenue Collection jewelry, designed a Support Our Troops pin. The ornate pin, in the shape of the yellow Support Our Troops ribbon, raises funds for True Patriot Love, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Canadian Armed Forces members,
veterans and families.
Cheryl Gallant supports and fights for our military and their families every day. Remember that when you cast your February 24th ballot for the Conservative you want to represent you in 2019 and beyond.
Christopher di Armani
Political commentator
Lytton, British Columbia
