Remembrance Day Sentry Program Personnel Revealed

Above image: National War Memorial  

The chosen members for the Remembrance Day Sentry Program were revealed this week by the Acting Chief of the Defence Staff, General Wayne D. Eyre.

Created in 1998, the Remembrance Day Sentry Program publicly recognizes Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members from both the Regular and the Reserve Force, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), for their “dedication, effort, professionalism, and performance of those who serve Canada and all Canadians,” Major-General Lise Bourgon, Acting Commander, Military Personnel Command explained.

Chosen Criteria

As in previous years, according to a press release from the Department of National Defence, six CAF members and one RCMP officer were chosen out of a pool of nominations from across the country.

“The sentries chosen for this year’s Remembrance Day Sentry Program continue to epitomize the very best of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Thank you for your outstanding dedication and service. Congratulations to each of you. Canada is immensely proud of you,” General Wayne D. Eyre, Acting Chief of the Defence Staff added.

Criteria for the final selection of this program includes deployment experience, community involvement, physical fitness, and record of conduct influence. These outstanding Canadians who were chosen will have an important ceremonial duty during this year’s national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.

This Year’s Sentries:

As stated in the press release, the following personnel have been selected to form the vigil for the event this year:

• Royal Canadian Navy Sentry Commander: Petty Officer Second Class Jacob Russell, Personnel Coordination Centre (Pacific), Esquimalt, B.C.
• Canadian Army Sentry: Corporal Justin George, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, Edmonton, Alta.
•  Royal Canadian Air Force Sentry: Corporal William Jodoin, 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron, North Bay, Ont.
• Special Operations Forces Sentry: Master Corporal Dany Drapeau-Guay, Canadian Special Operations Training Centre, Petawawa, Ont.
• Military Personnel Command Nursing Officer Sentry: Lieutenant (Navy) Debra Fredericks, Canadian Forces Trauma Training Centre (West), Vancouver, B.C.
• RCMP Sentry: Corporal Rielly Knock, F Division, Saskatoon, Sask.
• Special Guest of the Acting Chief of the Defence Staff: Corporal Nick Kerr, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, Edmonton, Alta.

Each year, the sentries perform the important ceremonial duty at the National War Memorial during the Remembrance Day ceremony held in Ottawa on November 11.