Name changed

Retired naval officer George Kearney says he’s glad to see the air and maritime divisions of the Canadian Forces return to its royal roots.

Kearney first enlisted with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1943 when he was 19-years-old and served for about 18 years before he retired in 1963. Canada dropped the older names in 1968, when the military's three main branches were unified under the banner of the Canadian Forces.

That all changed when Defence Minister Peter McKay announced on Tuesday that Canada’s navy and air forces would resurrect their old names, while Land Force Command will be called simply the Canadian Army.

McKay told the Canadian Press the change was intended to help those in uniform reconnect with their past and the government felt compelled to right a historic wrong.

Kearney said it was the right move to do.

“It was something that should never have been dropped in the first place,” the 88-year-old told Tbnewwatch.com on Wednesday.

“(Royal Canadian Navy) sounds much better than Navy Command as far as I’m concerned. I think it is a good thing. It brings back our traditions. We were part of the Empire and then we gained our own independence. Our head of state is the Queen and that’s where the royal comes from.”

HMCS Griffon Cmdr. Peter Fleming shared Kearney’s feelings about the name change and said the names will help to reconnect the navy to their past.

“I think it is an outstanding idea that connects us to our past,” Fleming said. “It allows us to take that much more pride in the Canadian navy. I’m very happy about it. I’ve met the Queen the summer before last and I would have liked to have introduced myself as the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy but now I officially could.”