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Petawawa, Ontario
The Airborne Forces Monument was dedicated on August 28, 1988. It is located at the entrance to the Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. It was constructed in memory of the Canadian Airborne Forces, including the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, The Canada/USA Special Service Force, Defense of Canada Parachute Units, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Airborne Regiment.
The Canadian Airborne Regiment commissioned this monument to mark its 20th anniversary and to
honour all past and present Canadian operational parachute units. The Artist who designed and
sculpted this 8 foot high bronze is Colonel Andre D. Gauthier (CF Ret'd) of Orleans,
Ontario. His statue is titled "INTO ACTION" and depicts a contemporary Paratrooper in winter
gear who has just landed on a frozen lake drop zone, shed his parachute harness (seen at his
feet), picked up his rifle and is heading "into action". The dedication ceremony involved an Honour Guard from the Canadian Airborne Regiment, a Flag Party of Canadian and USA Veterans, a Canadian Forces band, and numerous guests and veterans of Airborne Forces. Although the Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded in 1996, the Airborne role lives on in three Light Infantry battalions (3 PPCLI, 3 RCR and 3 R22eR) which each have a Parachute Company; the monument remains under the care of the Parachute Company of 3 RCR in Petawawa.
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