Posted on 03/16/2002 1:40:07 AM PST by badfreeper
The oldest member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry says she's ready to go to Afghanistan if she's needed.
Countess Mountbatten of Burma, 78, is the regiment's colonel-in-chief and is in Edmonton this weekend helping to raise morale of the families of troops in Afghanistan.
Lady Patricia told The Sun she is even prepared to go to Afghanistan to help boost morale but she doesn't want to distract troops from their work.
"I'd go if they wanted me to," she said. "But I don't imagine they have time to do any more than their immediate duties.
"If they want me, they'll tell me."
Lady Patricia, during her 28 years as colonel-in-chief, has paid many visits to members of the regiment's three battalions, both in Canada and while the troops have been serving overseas.
"They are a marvellous group of people," she said. "There is a real family atmosphere in the regiment which I am very proud to be a part of."
The soldiers are equally enthusiastic about Lady Patricia, a cousin of the Princess Patricia for whom the regiment was named.
"She is a great asset to the regiment," said Maj. Ted Giraldeau.
"She is a real morale booster who is comfortable speaking to anyone in the regiment, from the youngest to the oldest and the most junior to the most senior in rank."
Lady Patricia's ability to mix was also applauded by Cpl. Pete McCarron, who has been with the regiment for six years.
"She really likes getting in with the troops," he said.
Lady Patricia, who is also a cousin of the Duke of Edinburgh, is in Alberta for the regiment's annual birthday celebrations. Her busy schedule has included visits to regimental veterans in Victoria, B.C., Calgary and Edmonton.
Tomorrow she is due to officially open the Operation Apollo Drop-in Centre at the 3 Battalion's headquarters at the Edmonton Garrison.
The 3 Battalion forms the core of the 3 PPCLI battlegroup now serving in Afghanistan. About 300 Edmonton soldiers are part of a 500-strong Canadian force scouring a mountain range in Afghanistan for al-Qaida holdouts.
The drop-in centre is open to family members of all the Edmonton units in Afghanistan. They include 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, 1 Military Police Platoon, 1 Field Ambulance, 1 Service Battalion, the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), and 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron.
Copyright © 2002, Canoe, a division of Netgraphe Inc. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.