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Marching off to summer Darrell Greer Northern News Services Published Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The review brought down the tent flaps on a successful year for the cadets. Cadet 2nd Lieut. Dorothy Tootoo said this year's program featured a bumper crop of cadets. She said many of the cadets exceeded her expectations. "The program is being helped by the organizers of many events in Rankin because they're including the cadets now," said Tootoo. "That gets the kids out in public in their uniforms and they absolutely love it." Tootoo said the Rankin corps began the year with about 40 cadets. She said there were 27 on the final parade and five others couldn't attend for various reasons. "We had about 28 to 32 cadets on a pretty regular basis. "Our cadets are staying in the program a little longer now, and we just love that. "We have a lot of sergeants, but Warrant Officer George Dunkerley III is aging-out this year. "It really hit me that many of our cadets are growing up, when I looked at George during my speech and realized this was his last annual ceremonial review." Tootoo presented Capt. Graham Burton with a carving in recognition of his relationship with the 3019. She said Burton and the Rankin corps have come through a lot together during the past four years. "Being our area cadet officer, he was always trying to get as many of the kids in our region to Whitehorse for training as he could. "That really matters, when you have someone out there looking out for the kids." Tootoo said the cadets eagerly anticipate the award presentations during the ceremonial review. She said the entire corps appreciates those who sponsor the awards each year. "We lost a couple of sponsors this past year, so we hope someone will take them over because of how appreciative the kids are. "Many parents and grandparents were on local radio the day after the parade talking about the awards. "It shows you how proud everyone really is about the effort these kids make."
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