FReeper Canteen ~ Cpl Apiata, NZ, Awarded Victoria Cross

Serving The Best Troops In The World | Diehard the Hunter & The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

Corporal Bill Henry "Willy" Apiata, VC (born 28 June 1972 in Mangakino, New Zealand) is a member of the Special Air Service of New Zealand and the first recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. He is also the first New Zealander to be awarded a Victoria Cross since 1943. He received the award on July 2, 2007 for bravery under fire during the Afghanistan conflict in 2004, after carrying a wounded compatriot across a battlefield to receive medical treatment.

Fanfare For The Common Man

God Defend New Zealand

Po Karekare Ana

How Bizarre

Temaeva Haka

Queen Victoria chose the design for the new decoration. It is in the form of a Maltese Cross ensigned with the Royal Crest and a scroll inscribed simply "For Valour". It is connected by a V-shaped link to a bar engraved on the face with the recipient's name. The date of the deed for which the honour is bestowed is engraved on the back of the Cross itself. It is worn on the left breast, before all other medals and awards, suspended from a 1½-inch wide red ribbon. Originally the VC ribbon was blue for the Navy, and dark red for the Army. Since 1918, all VC awards use the crimson shade. The medal itself was, and still is, made of bronze melted down from the Russian cannons captured at Sevastopol in the Crimean War.

The Haka

Pacific Colours

Kilikiti Dance

Tarakihi (The Locust)

Po Ata Rau

The Special Air Service of New Zealand (NZ SAS) was formed on July 7, 1955 as an elite New Zealand Army and highly-secretive unit capable of undertaking special missions. It was modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS).

The New Zealand Government states that NZ SAS is the "premier combat unit of the New Zealand Defence Force", is based in Auckland, and has the motto "who dares wins".

The elite unit is "capable of undertaking unconventional warfare". Its key roles are to undertake overseas missions and respond to domestic terrorist attacks.

The New Zealand SAS is held in high regard internationally - as demonstrated by the United States Presidential Citation awarded to the NZSAS on 7 December 2004.

Please remember that The Canteen is Family Friendly.

[TASMANIANRED]

Enjoy your visit.

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! Good evening, Taz....((HUGS))....they are headed for bed. Both are falling asleep in their chairs. How has your day been?

[luvie]

Ruh-roh! No bumps allowed! Hope they are smoothed out soon.

Are you coming “home” for vacation?

[luvie]

They have taken some...just haven’t downloaded them. It’s not rocket science, already!!

It would be a jungle if hubby didn’t mow all the time. It’s never been this gorgeous, though...and thick. I love it. Of course, I don’t have to mow it! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, Kevin, for your service to our country.
Prayers for your safety and success of mission.

Thanks also to the Mortarmen of 1-9 Infantry Regiment for your service.
Prayers for your safety and success of mission.

[luvie]

That’s probably the way she’s going. I wouldn’t know because I HAVE NO NEW PICTURES! GRRRR.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Hawaii.....the weekend is fast approaching, thank goodness. I’m ready. Grandbaby time?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Interesting that China cares about world opinion.

[BIGLOOK]

Wishes only now......I’d have to coordinate plans with my brother and hope for the best. Or find something else to do.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thank you, David, for your service to our country.
Prayers for your safety and success of mission.

[luvie]

Well, guess you could join us in Maine next month! :D

Or come to Texas and let me see how many FReepers I can gather to have some fun! :D

Or.....stay home and play with the grandkids...which is probably a good choice, when I think about it.

[HiJinx]

What is it with kids and cameras? We haven’t gotten more than a dozen from them in the 2 years they’ve been gone.

[HiJinx]

When they start crawling, they move into my territory.

Ain't that the truth! Piper's Mommy had me put child-proof latches on all of the cabinets even before Piper was born.

About the time she was a year old, she was able to open them up! She always had at least one pair of eyes on her when she started crawling.

[luvie]

I think in my case, I took too many pictures of my son when he was little and he’s paying me back! LOL!

I wish they would send them though. I hate to turn into a nag at this stage of his life!

If they didn’t live so far away I’d just take my own pictures.

Ready and packed to rock ‘n’ roll? :D

[TASMANIANRED]

Frequent mowing is the side effect to gorgeous...

[HiJinx]

Ready and packed to rock ‘n’ roll? :D

Heavens, no. Nana is taking next Friday off to clean, do laundry, and pack suitcases. But, like you, we only pack one suitcase between us plus an overnight bag with toiletries.

That leaves room in the trunk for a 68-qt ice chest to bring stuff home in! My bil's garden is really producing this year, and we should have lots of 'maters, zucchini, and peppers to bring home.

[TASMANIANRED]

GRRRRR

You are gonna have to go visit to get a dose of Piper kisses...

[luvie]

So hubby is finding out.

Thank goodness I got him a new self-propelled mower last
year. He ALMOST likes doing it now.....almost.....:D

[TASMANIANRED]

Tell your son, if he doesn’t keep you supplied with pictures you are gonna move in with him.

[luvie]

I wanna visit again...but the next trip I could plan at work is the one to Maine. It’ll probably be September before we see her. She’ll be talking in sentences by then! WAAAAAAA....

Well I exaggerate....a little.....