By Carol Martin
SooToday.com
Sunday, April 09, 2006

Look for these ribbons from the 2310 Royal Canadian Army Cadets at today's closing ceremony at the Memorial Gardens.

Proceeds from ribbon sales go to support humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan, an effort Captain Roy Harten says is worthwhile both for Afghanis and Canadian peacekeepers stationed there.

Click here to share your memories of the Gardens

Harten says that Canadian military personnel have been gathering, shipping and distributing school supplies for children in Afghanistan almost since they arrived there.

He said that Canadian Forces personnel who engage in humanitarian aid efforts while stationed in Afghanistan do so on their own time and find it very rewarding to see a secondary positive outcome from their time abroad.

"They sometimes use their own money to buy some of the supplies for the school bags, too," said Harten.

"They haven't started things up again at Camp Nathan-Smith (in Kandahar) because they are still moving equipment and supplies into the base, but some of our people have been making contact with locals," Harten said.

At Camp Julien (now closed, in Kabul), Canadian Forces personnel built desks for a school and distributed book bags of school supplies to students at the school, he said.

They are also getting ready to take on similar humanitarian aid tasks in the area around Camp Nathan-Smith and the money raised from ribbon sales will support this effort.

Currently several Saultites are training at Camp Borden near Barrie, Ontario and will be shipping out to Camp Nathan August 1, 2006.

The full text of Captain Harten's release follows:

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Local Cadet Corps 'joins force' to support troops in Afghanistan

Sault Ste. Marie, ON: The four Sault Ste, Marie Cadet Corps, Royal Sovereign Sea Cadet Corps, Newman Navy League Cadet Corps, 2310 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and 155 Air Cadet Squadron, are planning to show their support for the Canadian Troops deployed in Afghanistan.

The cadets will be offering for sale, to the general public, yellow and camouflage 'Support Our Troops' vehicle magnets with the Canadian flag printed on them.

The cost of these vehicle magnets is $3.50 and the proceeds from this sale will be used to purchase school supplies for children in Afghanistan.

The magnetic ribbons will be available at the Closing Ceremonies of the Memorial Gardens on April 09, 2006.

Details of today's ceremony

The campaign will conclude on May 28, 2006.

The aim of the Canadian Cadet Movement is to stimulate interest of youth in the sea, land and air activities of the Canadian Forces.

The cadets, who range in age from 9 to 18, urge the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie to purchase these magnets and display them on their vehicles.

The cadets are proud to help support the humanitarian efforts that our troops are providing in Afghanistan and look forward to helping the children who do not have the advantages that these cadets take for granted here in Canada.

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