Family connection made
CPO2 Eric Meredith
HMCS Protecteur
Son and father, OS Chris Meredith and CPO2 Eric Meredith, requested a special temporary posting together so they could sail alongside one another in Protecteur.
Photo by Cpl Frieda Van Putten, HMCS Protecteur
It is often said among members of the military community that they are part of a large, extended family. Occasionally, this can be taken literally, such as with the Meredith family, who have provided the Canadian Forces with service for three generations. While it may not be so rare that military service is a common bond among families, having the privilege to serve on the same ship at the same time as father and son is certainly something special.
This rare opportunity was presented to my son, OS Chris Meredith, and myself. I was posted to HMCS Protecteur in April while my son, Chris, continued to serve as a member of the deck department in HMCS Ottawa. Once Chris caught wind of my impending posting, he immediately thought of how incredible it would be to sail alongside his father. Fortunately, for both of us, Chris was granted his request to be temporarily posted to Protecteur for their deployment on Westpac Oiler to Asia and Hawaii.
The Merediths have enjoyed the honour of sailing together. Indeed, how many sons can say their fathers took them out for their birthday while alongside in Guam? However, the phrase "respect your elders" undoubtedly takes on a whole new meaning when your dad's a chief on your ship.
This lineage of servicemen does not stop at the two of us. My father, PO Eric Meredith, is a retired member of the Canadian Navy with 20 years of service. CPO2 Richard Meredith, my brother, is currently working at the Fleet School in Halifax, NS. My step-son, SLt Randy Camponi, is employed at CFB Esquimalt and his grandfather Leonard Camponi, a Korean War veteran, served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. OS Michael McGall, my nephew, is currently a member of HMCS Regina's deck department.
The recurrent theme here is evident; the history of serving Canada in its armed forces is a tradition that runs deep in this family. While we have yet to have one of them don the uniform themselves, the women of this family have played a significant role in supporting their servicemen and Canada's defence interests at home and abroad as wives, mothers, grandmothers and sisters. They are sure to be on the jetty to welcome Protecteur and the Meredith boys home this month.
