Lakefield Herald Special Report

Buckhorn community collecting items for Canadian troops in Afghanistan

The community of Buckhorn is pitching in to help the Canadian Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan.

Donations of items such as snack foods and toiletries are being accepted at the Buckhorn Community Centre, and a booth will be set up at the Canada Day celebrations July 1.

Organizers request that boxes be clearly labelled “Soldier”.

Shipping items to the troops is a complicated process. Packages must be sent to one individual who in turn distributes the items to the troops “Out on the wire”.

This year the soldier who will receive the packages is Nick Bulger. Bulger is presently stationed at the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Headquarters.

Bulger was born in Toronto in June of 1979 and moved to Buckhorn in 1985. He started his schooling at St. Paul’s in Lakefield then transferred to Buckhorn Public School.

Bulger spent his high school years at Lakefield District Secondary School then went on to Sir Sanford Fleming were he earned a diploma in Fire Safety Security Management.

Bulger started basic training in November of 2000 in Saint Jean, Quebec then travelled to Wainwright, Alberta where he underwent trades training for the infantry.

Bulger was posted in Edmonton, Alberta in the Spring of 2001 and spent the next two years with the First Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry where he served as a Rifleman and Armoured Vehicle Driver and Gunner.

Bulger took a break from the military but returned in January of 2008 with the plan of making the Armed Forces a career.

Bulger said, “As a Canadian soldier I do feel that we are making a difference and that no matter what happens here, whether it is good or bad it is a war after all. It’s the support from our friends and families back home that helps us do our jobs and come back home safe. We appreciate everything you do for us.”

To date the group from Buckhorn has sent 97 boxes to the Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and this year have made up thousands of yellow ribbons with Canadian flags and are urging people to wear them on Canada Day.

The ribbons are available in and around Buckhorn and the group simply asks for a donation for the troops.

Darlene Loucks told The Herald that she would like to see the ribbons worn on Canada Day similar to poppies being worn on Remembrance Day.

If you would like to help our troops overseas contact the Buckhorn Community Centre at (705) 657-8833 or Darlene Loucks at (705) 657-7182 or bring your items to the Canada Day celebrations at the Buckhorn Community Centre on July 1.

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