Meeting Michael's wish
Lt Gabriel Rousseau, JTFG MC Public Affairs Officer
Lt Kelly Thompson of Joint Task Force Games (JTFG) Support Component applies camouflage paint on 13-year-old Matthew.
Photo by Cpl Roderick Hopp, Esquimalt Imaging Services
The Make a Wish Foundation Canada, a charitable organization dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions, arranged for a few children to experience the Olympics in Vancouver.
Joint Task Force Games Maritime Component extended an invite to the Foundation, on behalf of JTFG's four components, to come to HMCS Discovery, Vancouver's Naval Reserve Division and heart of Vancouver 2010 Olympic marine security operations, during a brief lull in operations.
Thirteen-year old Matthew jumped at the opportunity, as he not only had the wish to come to the Olympic Games, but a second wish: to live a military experience. This was a opportunity to showcase what the military does best to a young boy eager to see for himself what the CF is all about.
The Maritime Component, as well as JTFG's Air, Land and Support Components, held a variety of events to give Matthew both his wishes. The family went for a boat tour with the Maritime Component's Combined Operation Dive Team to see the Olympic Flame from the water and a fantastic view of Vancouver Harbour.
Military Police with the Support Component showed Matthew their vehicles and their equipment, including their radar gun. The MP was a bit surprised by Matthew's request to measure the speed of his electric wheelchair, but more than happy to help - capturing his wheelchair at speeds in excess of 12 kilometres per hour.
With the Land Component, soldiers showed Matthew their equipment, as well as how to put camouflage paint on his face.
"Couple years ago I was costumed as a tank for Halloween," joked Matthew when he saw the big Heavy Logistic Vehicle. Matthew was also very impressed to see the food the soldiers eat in the field.
The Air Component gave Matthew and his family a short flight on a CF-146 Griffon helicopter. He could directly communicate to the pilot through his headphone unit. After the flight, the Combined Operation Dive Team showed Matthew the remote controlled robot used for explosive ordinance disposal, as well as the dive equipment used for underwater security sweeps of venues and key locations. Matthew visited the Navy's Bomb Disposal truck to see how the robot was controlled by the divers.
"After a quick race between them, Matthew was pleased to find out he was faster than the robot," said Joey, Matthew's brother.
Everybody could see Matthew's smile during his entire visit and he was very curious to know how everything worked.
"Thank you so much for this day," said Matthew at the end of his tour. Mike, Matthew's father, added that it was a day all the family will remember for the rest of their lives And in an e-mail from The Make a Wish Foundation Canada, Matthew apparently was telling anyone and everyone about how he got both his wishes in one day, how he was going up to strangers in downtown Vancouver and starting his conversations with: "So, I bet you wonder why I have cammo paint on?"
