Buckley recognizes its partnership with Canada on Canada Day

Published July 2, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Luke W. Nowakowski
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Members of Buckley Air Force Base recognized both Canada Day and the importance of the alliance between the United States and Canada at the base chapel luncheon July 1 on Buckley AFB, Colorado.

"We love our partnership with Canada," said Col. John Wagner, 460th Space Wing commander. "We work with Canada day in and day out to defend North America and we can't do it without our Canadian friends in arms."

Canada Day is the national day of Canada and can be compared to the U.S. Independence Day. Held on July 1, and originally known as Dominion Day, this day resulted from the creation of Canada as a country on July 1, 1867, when the three British colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the United Province of Canada were united under the British North America Act. In 1982, Canada became completely independent of Britain with the Canada Act, which patriated Canada's constitution. From this point forward, July 1 would be known as Canada Day.

The hospitality given by the American military and public has been great and makes it a lot easier being away from home especially on a day like Canada Day, said Maj. Phil Desmarais, Outside Canada Space Operations deputy commanding officer, who attended a Canada Day Celebration at Peterson AFB, Colorado.

Desmarais also spoke about the importance of North American Aerospace Defense Command and its impact on North American safety.

NORAD is a joint operation by the U.S. and Canada tasked with aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America, according to the National Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces website. NORAD is based out of Peterson AFB in Colorado Spings, Colorado. Buckley plays an important role in maintaining NORAD operations, and both U.S. and Canadian service members work together to keep Buckley's mission performing at the highest level.

Wagner spoke on the importance of Team Buckley recognizing our Canadian partners.

"Our partnership with Canada for missile warning goes back many, many years," Wagner said. "There is no stronger supporter of Canada than the United States."