2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War and Calgary police are honoring the sacrifices made by issuing a Commemorative ‘Vimy Salute’ cap badge for its uniformed members.
On April 9, 1917 regiments from across the country came together at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which was a pivotal moment in our country’s military history.
27 members of the Calgary Police Service served in the First World War and so the anniversary has a special significance for CPS members.
“As a kid growing up in Calgary, there was still World War I vets around, there were still families that had lost members in World War I or had survivors of World War I who came home and then died a few years later because of the injuries or the wounds they sustained and always the fear back in those days was who would really remember the sacrifices? And here it is a hundred years later and we in the Calgary Police Service feel strongly how important it is to acknowledge the sacrifice of those that gave their lives, not only in World War I, but World War I, World War II, Korea and Afghanistan,” said Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson.
The ‘Vimy Salute’ will serve as a symbol of gratitude for the bravery and sacrifice given by so many and the hat badge will have a prominent place on all service caps until 2018.
“It’s important to wear a poppy, it really is but poppies are only worn for a certain period of time whereas the sacrifices that went on in World War I went over four years and those sacrifices were significant and the Calgary Police Service wants to acknowledge those four years of sacrifice and so the badges will be worn for the next four years,’ said Hanson.
The cap badges will revert back to the current model on Monday, November 12, 2018 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
The Calgary Police Service posted an inside look at its connection to Vimy Ridge on its YouTube channel.
To view it Click HERE or press play below…
