3 May 2005

Fellow Rakkasans,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Joe Drouin to RAKKASANS everywhere. Joe is a paratrooper who, since his retirement from the Canadian Airborne Regiment, has been providing assorted military and regimental accoutrements to the military community. He is a tremendous fan of the accomplishments of the APOLLO RAKKASANS, the men and women of the 3PPCLI Battle Group who served with Task Force RAKKASAN during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan, and has volunteered to carry items for us in his inventory.

So far, Joe has an inventory of T shirts, ball caps and challenge coins in stock. These are for sale to anybody, and 10% of the revenue from these items goes to the APOLLO RAKKASANS, the first chapter Rakkasan Association outside of the United States of America. We are very proud of that honor. Members of the association can order these items through our Chapter Web Page (www.rakkasan.net) and receive the 10% as a discount. I might add that members of the APOLLO RAKKASAN Chapter who purchase a coin will have their original 3PPCLI Zap Number engraved on it. All others will have a serial number controlled by Joe Drouin.

Celebrate the notoriety of the operation that marked the first time since the Korean War that Canada deployed troops on combat operations against a declared enemy. If you were a part of it then, be a part of it still. You were there! I hope to see an APOLLO RAKKASAN wearing the Torii every time I go to the gym!

Finally, on behalf of all APOLLO RAKKASANS may I express our pride for the way the RAKKASANS distinguished themselves once again on Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our comrades who are not with us today.

Rakkasan!!!

P@ Stogran

Colonel