1st Combat Engineer Regiment Appreciation Plaque

THIS PLAQUE IS PRESENTED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CHILLIWACK AREA BY 1 COMBAT ENGINEER REGIMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE TRANSFER OF THE REGIMENT FROM CFB CHILLIWACK TO CFB EDMONTON IN JULY 1996. IT IS GIVEN AS A GESTURE OF APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE AT HAVING BEEN SO WHOLEHEARTEDLY ACCEPTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE CHILLIWACK COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST FIVE DECADES.

VALE OF PLENTY

A HUNDRED TIMES WE’VE LEFT THIS PLACE
AND MARCHED AWAY TO DISTANT KINGDOMS
THERE TO WALK FULL IN HARM’S WAY
AND STRUGGLE HARD FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM.

THE WORLD AROUND WE’VE ROVED AND RANGED
TO PAY IN BLOOD ON CAIN’S DARK DEBT.
WE’VE DONE BOLD THINGS YOU CAN’T IMAGINE,
AND DESPERATE THINGS WE CAN’T FORGET.

ON NIGHTS WE SLEEP WE DREAMED SWEET DREAMS
IN SLUMBER’S SHORT LIVED COMFORT LENT  WE
HOMESICK FLEW BACK IN AN INSTANT
TO THIS PEACEFUL VALE OF PLENTY.

FOR HERE IS WHERE WE'VE WOO'D AND WED
AND TUCKED OUR CHILDREN SAFE IN BED.
AND HERE IS WHERE OUR LOVED ONES STAY
AND WORRY WHEN WE’RE FAR AWAY.
AND HERE IS WHERE WE’VE MOURNED AND SAID
OUR SAD FAREWELLS TO COMRADES DEAD.
TO HERE IS WHERE WE HOPE AND PRAY
WE SAFELY MAKE IT BACK ONE DAY.

GIRT BY ALPINE PALISADE
SAFE FROM EVERY ADVERSARY
MILD, PASTORAL, LUSH AND FERTILE
THIS OUR VERDANT SANCTUARY.

NOW ORDERS COME TO STRIKE THE CAMP.
NOW SAD BEFORE US LIES OUR DUTY
TO SOUND "LAST POST" AND LOW’R THE FLAG
AND LEAVE THIS PLACE OF MATCHLESS BEAUTY.

AS SOLDIERS DO, WE’LL HEFT OUR PACKS
AND STEADFAST MARCH FOR WHERE WE’RE BOUND
BUT EVER IN OUR HEARTS WILL REST
THIS PEACEFUL VALE AS SACRED GROUND.

WARRANT OFFICER DANIEL HARTFORD
1 COMBAT ENGINEER
REGIMENT

-UBIQUE-