Oct. 2006 - By Nicki Cruickshank
Soldier’s wife inspires company to help troops in Afghanistan
Helen Barsby is flagging support for our soldiers. A red and white care package for her husband’s troops will soon flap freely for Canadian soldiers on Afghanistan’s soil.
“Adam is a major serving over in Afghanistan,” said the 39-year-old Thornton resident, of her husband serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment Second Battalion in Kabul. “He wanted to do something for Nov. 11 with flags to commemorate soldiers who’ve died.”
Sixteen Canadian flags will leave for Adam’s camp in a few weeks. A patriotic gesture from Barrie’s own Flags Unlimited and a woman who takes soldier support quite personally.
“Some of these soldiers have nobody, and this will help boost morale,” Barsby said, clasping her hands together.
“For me, it’s very hard with (Adam) over there. We have two children, James and Victoria-Ann, and it’s very hard for them to understand why he’s gone.”
Flags Unlimited jumped at a chance to support Canadian soldiers.
Pumping out one million flags annually, the local business happily threaded its machines to make 16 more that the group of Canadian soldiers will raise on Nov. 11.
“I thought it was a compelling story, “ said Dennis Brown, president of Flags Unlimited. “Canada in general needs to show support to our troops.”
“The Canadian flag is so symbolic and it represents who we are as Canadians,” Brown added. “We’ve shown support in different ways, but nothing quite like this.”
Barsby said her husband and his fellow soldiers are touched at such strong support from their homeland.
“(Adam’s) really pleased. He’s told a lot of the troops and they’re happy,” Barsby said, beaming. “Good old Barrie came through for them.”
The battalion’s box of joy will be brought back by one of their own in the near future.
“One of the lieutenants (Adam) is working with from Barrie, Lieut. Dave Hook, will bring them back with him when he comes home,” Barsby said, full of appreciation.
“I’d love to go over, but it’s a war zone, so family members aren’t allowed over there.”
Barsby is happy to do her part to show military support. But with the government’s unfavourable decision to keep soldiers fighting on Afghani turf, she fears Canada’s support may be slipping.
“I find not as many people support them being over there, and I think a lot of the troops don’t feel we care,” Barsby said.
“It would be great if the community would come together to do something like this.”
Barsby said Flags Unlimited’s good deed would not go unnoticed by the troops either.
“Adam said he’ll come back and present one of flags to them framed, dated and signed by the troops,” she said.
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Helen Barsby, left, whose husband is a major with the Canadian Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan, and Angela Cashubec, store manager at Flags Unlimited in Barrie, hold a flag just like the ones the company is shipping as a morale booster to soldiers in time for Remembrance Day.
