Fifty years ago, the officers of the Royal Canadian Air Force 2451st AC & W (Auxiliary) Squadron organized the first International Armed Forces Night (IAFN) to solidify the excellent rapport between Canadian and U.S. military forces established during the first Detroit/Windsor International Freedom Festival. This 50-year old tradition will be celebrated at a formal military dinner on May 8 at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Mich.
“This is an outstanding time for the military officers of the Detroit and Windsor area to get together and look back over the many accomplishments of the past 50 years of cooperation between our countries,” said COL Jack Blanchard, US Army (Ret.) chairperson of IAFN. “The dinner is open to all officers who served in the armed forces of all allied nations, as well as their guests. We’re anticipating a record turnout, with veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts in attendance.”
In 1965, the “mess night,” or formal dinner of commissioned officers, was expanded to include not only U.S. and Canadian, but all Allied armed forces.
“This is an outstanding time for the military officers of the Detroit and Windsor area to get together and look back over the many accomplishments of the past 50 years of cooperation between our countries,” said COL Jack Blanchard, US Army (Ret.) chairperson of IAFN. “The dinner is open to all officers who served in the armed forces of all allied nations, as well as their guests. We’re anticipating a record turnout, with veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts in attendance.”
In 1965, the “mess night,” or formal dinner of commissioned officers, was expanded to include not only U.S. and Canadian, but all Allied armed forces.
The evening begins with a reception at 1830 hours, (6:30 p.m. to you non-military types,) followed by a formal procession led by a military color guard and bagpiper. The post dinner ceremony begins with the bands playing the songs of all services present, and toasts to each of the armed services, the President of the United States, the Queen of Canada and to the fallen allied comrades of all armed conflicts and peacetime operations.
Major General Scott G. West, Commanding General, US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Mich., http://tinyurl.com/MGEN-WEST is the guest speaker for this 50th anniversary dinner.
The International Armed Forces Council, a committee of U.S. and Canadian officers, also presents the International Armed Forces Achievement Award to the individual deemed to have contributed most to international goodwill.
The dinner is open to all who have served as commissioned officers or warrant officers and their spouses and their guests. Music for the evening is provided by combined military dance band of the 338th U.S. Army Band, under the direction of Master Sergeant Tim Brennan, and the Windsor Regiment Band, under the direction of Captain Beth Dykeman, Canadian Armed Forces.
For this formal event, the preferred uniform is military mess dress or civilian black tie, though “Class A” military uniform or conservative civilian attire are welcomed.
Tickets are $70 (US) and $75 (Canadian) per person. Additional details are available on http://http://www.iafnc.org/ .
Major General Scott G. West, Commanding General, US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Mich., http://tinyurl.com/MGEN-WEST is the guest speaker for this 50th anniversary dinner.
The International Armed Forces Council, a committee of U.S. and Canadian officers, also presents the International Armed Forces Achievement Award to the individual deemed to have contributed most to international goodwill.
The dinner is open to all who have served as commissioned officers or warrant officers and their spouses and their guests. Music for the evening is provided by combined military dance band of the 338th U.S. Army Band, under the direction of Master Sergeant Tim Brennan, and the Windsor Regiment Band, under the direction of Captain Beth Dykeman, Canadian Armed Forces.
For this formal event, the preferred uniform is military mess dress or civilian black tie, though “Class A” military uniform or conservative civilian attire are welcomed.
Tickets are $70 (US) and $75 (Canadian) per person. Additional details are available on http://http://www.iafnc.org/ .
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For this formal event, the preferred uniform is military mess dress or civilian black tie.Airport Parking Luton Meet And Greet
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