Alright, I have a story I could share. It's not exactly a "war story", but it's military related.
A couple of months ago I was in Meaford for SQ. Well it was the week before my course was to start, and I'm contacted to attend the Vimy Award's Dinner in Ottawa, as the boyfriend's date, as he has been requested to be there as a sponsored guest. So all my staff do their best to get me on leave, and on the road to Ottawa ASAP. I make it into Ottawa approximately an hour before the event is supposed to start. Well, all I have in my possession are my combats, which definitely won't do for a Black tie affair. So we make a mad dash to the mall to buy a black gown, and all the accessories. Get dressed faster than I have ever dressed for any event, and rush to the War Museum for said event.
I'm a VERY green, freshly graduated BMQ, Private at this time. We walk into a room full of people, with gold bars and crossed swords all over the place. The guest of honor was the Governor General (Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean). As well as the event was attended by the Minister of National Defence (The Honourable Peter MacKay) So basically, I'm very intimidated and feeling very out of place. So we're walking around, mingling and meeting other NCM's and NCO's that were sponsored for the event. It comes time to be seated so we find our table with our sponsor and the other NCO and officer that was to be seated with us. (Our sponsor was a retired General, and a Senator) Well we sit down and the RSM of the Army (CWO Ford) is seated at the table next to us, and he comes over to meet my date, and ask him about his time in Afghanistan. This continues throughout the night, so I got to meet the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (LGen Natynczyk), who I had a nice conversation with as his daughter was graduating BMQ a few weeks later as a Med Tech, and he wanted to know how long his speech as reviewing officer should be. I of course told him to lengthen it a bit, to make their moment a little more special. (he picked up right away that I was just trying to torture a friend with a long standing period) I later met his daughter here in Borden, and she told me the speech was nice and long. ;D
Towards the end of the night, once the meal is over, we make a trip to the washroom. On our way back we get stopped by the Chief of Land Staff (LGen Leslie). He noticed my date's name and wanted to stop and talk to him about his experiences overseas. He made some small talk with me about how I was the prettiest young gal in the room, and how "this young Cpl was very lucky to have me as his date". To which my date replies "well sir, she's actually a new Pte herself. She's just up for the weekend from her SQ in Meaford". Well didn't his face just light up when he heard that! He starts telling us how he loves service couples because they go home and make "army babies". He then grabs my hand to look for a ring, which of course he didn't find. So he looks at my date and says "Well Cpl, where's her ring?" To which he jokingly replies "Uh sir, not there yet..." So LGen Leslie replies saying "Well Birks is just down the street"... and my dates eyes get huge as he hears that and says "Uh Sir, I may require a raise in order to shop there"... So LGen Leslie decides he needs to show the young Cpl how it is done, so he gets down on one knee and proceeds to take my hand and show my date how he should propose to me once he's gone shopping at Birks. Of course I am bright red, and can't stop laughing at this point. And my date is standing there dumbfounded. At this time the CWO of the Forces (CWO Lacroix) walks over to see what is going on, as it looks pretty out of the ordinary I am sure. LGen Leslie gets up, tells me that if I don't see a ring in the next few months, I am to send him an e-mail on the DIN and he'll make sure it's taken care of. Then the LGen and the CWO walk off together laughing.
I walked into this amazing affair an intimidated, very green Private. I walked out a very entertained new Private who definitely cannot forget her chain of command!
And the pic: