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Robert Grey awarded highest medal a Legion member can receive By Liz Dadson |
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 Brian Smith (L), vice-president Ontario Command, and Mike Atkinson (second to right), provincial honours and awards chairman, present the Dominion Meritorious Service Medal to Robert (Bob) Grey, with his wife, Tryntje, at the Kincardine Legion Honour and Awards Banquet Saturday night | |||||
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Robert (Bob) Grey, secretary of the Kincardine Legion, was surprised and honoured to be awarded the Dominion Meritorious Service Medal, the highest award a Legion member can receive, at the Honours and Awards Banquet Saturday night. A member of the Legion since 1970, he has served in many capacities, and a six-page citation was presented by his comrades, branch president Red Larsen and first vice-president Peggy Griffin, in support of this award. Grey received a life membership from Ontario Command in 1997 and has continued to serve and support the Legion with all his heart and soul, reads the citation. "Hardly a day goes by that he isn't involved in some endeavour beneficial to the branch or to the Legion community in general. "Bob Grey has regularly done the cooking for our monthly family dinners which quite often serve more than 200 meals. In addition, he normally cooks for catered breakfasts which we hold for various community organizations, which also are in the 200 attendees count. "This commitment includes organizing other support staff, such as servers, dishwashing crew, and when short-handed, personally stepping into that category as well. "During our annual catering commitment to the local Robbie Burns dinner for 200-250 people at the local arena, it will be Bob Grey who is the last person out the branch's kitchen door following clean-up and the return of food and equipment to the various coolers and storage ares. Normally, this is at least a seven-hour commitment of intense physical labour." Grey is chairman of the Nevada ticket committee, and edits the branch newsletter which produces 500 copies, five times per year. He helps with repairs at the Legion building and offers advice and assistance to all who ask. His attention to detail is an added bonus as he has served several terms as branch secretary. Grey has served at the Legion Zone C-1 level as secretary, commander, and poppy chairman; and at the District level as youth education chairman and poppy chairman. He is also deputy commanding officer and training officer of the Typhoon Squadron 183, Air Cadets. This involves administrative duties, Cadet supervision, program scheduling and many other activities and responsibilities. He is about to take over as commanding officer. "Comrade Robert (Bob) Grey has given his heart and soul to the Royal Canadian Legion since becoming an Ordinary Member in 1970. Therefore, Branch 183 is honoured to recommend that this deserving individual be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal."
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After receiving the award, Grey turned to the audience and said he was really surprised because as branch secretary, he should know what's going on. "I became involved in the Air Cadets because my sons were involved," he said. "And one of my sons is here tonight and so is former commander Bruce Clift. The Air Cadets program is very worthwhile. It helps young people mature and become leaders." He is actually the current commanding officer with the Squadron, and when he turns 65 in September, he will hand over the training officer duties. Grey thanked his wife, Tryntje, who supported him in all his endeavours. "It is truly a privilege to receive this honour," he said. Branch president Red Larsen, who was unable to be at the banquet, wrote in a letter that it has been an honour to work with Grey. "Any task that needs to be done, he does it," said Larsen. "He is a great credit to Legion Branch 183. I hope we have the honour of working with him for many years to come." "I know of nobody more deserving of this award than Bob Grey," said branch first vice-president Peggy Griffin. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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