65th EME Day 2009 in Ma’Sum Ghar

By Cpl Mark Lewis, EO Tech/BBQ Technician, C Sqn Maintenance, FOB MSG Afghanistan (How’s that for a Handle!)
20 May 2009

 

What better place to celebrate the 65th EME day than Maintenance Troop, FOB Ma’Sum Ghar in Afghanistan! The spirit of Arte et Marte is proven every day as Maintainers man Observation Posts, recover & repair vehicles, and provide invaluable support to the Squadron and Task Force as a whole. Whether it is an ARV crew outside the wire or mechanics and ancillary techs fixing faults in the maintenance lines, all members of the EME crew are hard at work keeping the Squadron and Task Force ready for battle.

 

This year being the 65th anniversary of the EME day, we thought that we had to do something to celebrate. However, being in a theatre of operations, we could not just shut down for a Sports Day! Instead, C Squadron Maintenance decided the best way to celebrate would be to get all the EME personnel together for a BBQ to end the day. “A” Company and CSS EME personnel were invited and plans were made to spend a couple of hours with some good food and friends.

 

Steaks and pork chops were ordered from the kitchen along with baked potatoes, corn on the cob, mushrooms, onions, and Caesar salad. Extra BBQ’s were brought up from CSS and food was prepared for the event. Everyone was on hand by 1600 hrs with appetites at the ready. The kitchen even scrounged up some cakes for us as well! Needless to say, the food was delicious and everyone had a good time.

 

Not to break tradition easily, a game of catch with the football broke out soon after. It was a great time to relax with our comrades after having spent around two months in theatre hard at work. The pace of operations and repairs has kept maintenance busy and this was the perfect opportunity to take a break, at least for an afternoon! SSM Richard Stacey and OC John Cochrane joined in wishing everyone a happy 65th EME day and stayed to enjoy a steak or two themselves.

I am sure that even though we really missed the beer tent, everyone will agree that this was an EME day to remember. Thousands of miles from home, away from friends and family; the spirit of camaraderie and friendship helped lighten our load for at least a little while.

 

Arte et Marte!