Cadets Help Raise Funds for War Veterans
By: , September 9, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Michael Shaw
Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (2nd left), with (from left): members of the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF), Corporal Xuandre Mohansingh of the Fifth Battalion; Sergeant Cleveland Palmer of the Second Battalion and Corporal Nichola Perkins of the Third Battalion, at the launch of Wings Appeal 2015, at King’s House, on September 8. The Governor-General presented trophies to the cadets for helping to raise funds for World War II veterans. Others in the background (from left) are: Chairman of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), Jamaica Branch, Major Johanna Lewin; Commandant of the JCCF, Colonel Lemuel Lindo; Pilot, Captain Lewis Mayne; and President of RAFA, Major General Robert Neish.The Facts
- Proceeds from this effort will go toward providing care for war veterans of the Royal Air Forces (RAF) 580 Jamaica Branch, who fought in World War II.
- The Governor-General’s Trophy for first place has been won by the Second Battalion of the cadet force; the President’s Trophy for second place has been awarded to the Third Battalion; and for third place, the Chairman’s Trophy has been awarded to the Fifth Battalion.
The Full Story
Three units in the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF) have been awarded for their outstanding fundraising efforts in the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), Jamaica Chapter’s Wings Appeal Competition.
Proceeds from this effort will go toward providing care for war veterans of the Royal Air Forces (RAF) 580 Jamaica Branch, who fought in World War II.
The Governor-General’s Trophy for first place has been won by the Second Battalion of the cadet force; the President’s Trophy for second place has been awarded to the Third Battalion; and for third place, the Chairman’s Trophy has been awarded to the Fifth Battalion.
The trophies were presented by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at a ceremony held on September 8 at King’s House, to launch Wings Appeal 2015.
In his address, the Governor-General commended the young cadets for their enthusiastic support of the charity.
“I commend the willingness of the JCCF to be actively engaged in such an important cause on behalf of those who gave so much of themselves in service to their country and the world. It shows your appreciation for their contribution and that you too are concerned about their lives after service,” he said.
“RAFA is doing something significant in Jamaica by incorporating our cadets and young people in these celebratory activities, because we need our young people to understand and appreciate Jamaica’s history in this respect, and one of the best ways that we can honour these veterans is to focus on what they stood for and to pass on these lessons to our young people, in particular,” the Governor-General added.
Meanwhile, Chairman of RAFA Jamaica 580 Branch, Major Johanna Lewin, said that participation of the JCCF in this year’s fundraising activities is part of a larger thrust of RAFA to sustain the work of the organization.
“We did spectacularly well this year as opposed to earlier years, as we saw an increase in what was collected and this is due to the involvement of the JCCF in this year’s activities,” she noted.
The 2015 Wings Appeal launch coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 1940, in which volunteer Jamaican war veterans played an important part in claiming victory for Britain.
RAFA Jamaica will be celebrating this milestone in a week of celebratory events beginning on September 13 with a Thanksgiving Service at the Garrison Church, Up Park Camp, St. Andrew, followed by a wreath laying ceremony on September 15 at the Cenotaph, National Heroes Park. The annual Reunion Dinner will be held on September 17 at Curphey Place, in Kingston.