Lt(N) David Lewis
Special to The Record
In the bustling core of the nation’s capital rests an island of reflection and honour.
The National War Memorial sits on a small plaza surrounded by traffic, in the shadow of parliament.
At its base, on the north side, rests the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The tomb holds the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died in France during World War I. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces recently returned to sentry duty for the 2015 National Sentry Program season. One of those sentries guarding the tomb is a local sailor from Courtenay, Leading Seaman Jeffrey Allam.
LS Allan is a proud member of ship’s company of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver which is home-ported in Esquimalt.
“I joined the military because I wanted a career which was challenging and out of the ordinary,” says Allam. “The opportunity to stand sentry at the National War Memorial is an incredible opportunity to pay respect to all those who have served and sacrificed.”
LS Allam has been in the Canadian Armed Forces for almost five years. He attended Highland Secondary School and North Island College.
“It’s already been a great experience,” he said, of sentry duties. “I’ve met a great group of sailors from around the country who have all come together sharing a strong sense of pride in this job.”
The 2015 season of the National Sentry Program launched on April 9 and will run daily from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Nov. 10. The ceremony reinforces our national commitment to remember and honour all who have served Canada, and contributed to Canada’s long- standing tradition of military excellence through to the present day.