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Esquimalt sailors cheer return of "royal" designation to navy and air force
By Katie DeRosa, timescolonist.com Vancouver Sun.August 16, 2011.
It's one word, five letters long, but military officials and veterans say the return of the "royal" designation to Canada's navy and air force represents a return to a century-old tradition which was unceremoniously severed 43 years ago.
The country's land and sea forces will now be called the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army, a moniker first bestowed to the forces 100 years ago Tuesday.
"Restoring these historic identities is an important way of reconnecting today's men and women in uniform with the proud history and tradition they uphold as members of the Canadian Armed Forces," said associate minister of defence Julian Fantino, speaking Tuesday at CFB Esquimalt.
It was under those historic names that soldiers fought and died in both world wars and the Korean War and the early days of the Cold War, Fantino said.
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