1st Combat Engineer Regiment Appreciation Plaque

This memorial is dedicated to the citizens of Chilliwack. It was erected by the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment when they were transferred to CFB Edmonton on July 1st, 1996. The plaque is displayed in the City of Chilliwack Municipal Hall and features the poem “Vale of Plenty,” composed by Warrant Officer Daniel Hartford.

Inscription

THIS PLAQUE IS PRESENTED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CHILLIWACK AREA BY 1 COMBAT ENGINEER REGIMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE TRANSFER OF THE REGIMENT FROM CFB CHILLIWACK TO CFB EDMONTON IN JULY 1996. IT IS GIVEN AS A GESTURE OF APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE AT HAVING BEEN SO WHOLEHEARTEDLY ACCEPTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE CHILLIWACK COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST FIVE DECADES.

VALE OF PLENTY

A HUNDRED TIMES WE’VE LEFT THIS PLACE AND MARCHED AWAY TO DISTANT KINGDOMS
THERE TO WALK FULL IN HARM’S WAY AND STRUGGLE HARD FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM. THE WORLD AROUND WE’VE ROVED AND RANGED TO PAY IN BLOOD ON CAIN’S DARK DEBT. WE’VE DONE BOLD THINGS YOU CAN’T IMAGINE, AND DESPERATE THINGS WE CAN’T FORGET. ON NIGHTS WE SLEEP WE DREAMED SWEET DREAMS IN SLUMBER’S SHORT LIVED COMFORT LENT
WE HOMESICK FLEW BACK IN AN INSTANT TO THIS PEACEFUL VALE OF PLENTY. FOR HERE IS WHERE WE’VE WOO’D AND WED AND TUCKED OUR CHILDREN SAFE IN BED. AND HERE IS WHERE OUR LOVED ONES STAY AND WORRY WHEN WE’RE FAR AWAY. AND HERE IS WHERE WE’VE MOURNED AND SAID OUR SAD FAREWELLS TO COMRADES DEAD. TO HERE IS WHERE WE HOPE AND PRAY WE SAFELY MAKE IT BACK ONE DAY. GIRT BY ALPINE PALISADE
SAFE FROM EVERY ADVERSARY
MILD, PASTORAL, LUSH AND FERTILE
THIS OUR VERDANT SANCTUARY. NOW ORDERS COME TO STRIKE THE CAMP. NOW SAD BEFORE US LIES OUR DUTY TO SOUND “LAST POST” AND LOW’R THE FLAG AND LEAVE THIS PLACE OF MATCHLESS BEAUTY. AS SOLDIERS DO, WE’LL HEFT OUR PACKS AND STEADFAST MARCH FOR WHERE WE’RE BOUND BUT EVER IN OUR HEARTS WILL REST THIS PEACEFUL VALE AS SACRED GROUND.

WARRANT OFFICER DANIEL HARTFORD
1 COMBAT ENGINEER
REGIMENT

-UBIQUE-

Ce mémorial dédié aux citoyens de Chilliwack a été érigé par le 1er Régiment du génie lors de son transfert à la BFC Edmonton le 1er juillet 1996. Le poème intitulé « Vale of Plenty », composé par l’adjudant Daniel Hartford, est inscrit sur la plaque exposée dans la salle municipale de Chilliwack.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.