The 2024 Invisible Ribbon Gala was held Saturday evening at the National Air Force Museum of Canada.
More than 150 guests came dressed one of two ways; either in their finest gala wear, or dressed in an era of history. This included the Honorary Colonels and Wing Commander Leighton James, who dressed for the year 1972.
Tables were assigned a year and guests were invited to dress as our parents and grandparents would have.
The evening included dinner, music, dancing, live and silent auctions, drinks, stories, and of course a focus on our history.
2024 is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The evening’s sponsors were four Honorary Colonels at Canadian Forces Base Trenton and a major community advocate.
Julie Lange (Scotia Wealth Management) is the Honorary Colonel for 8 Wing. Mark Phillips (Mystical Distributing) is the Honorary Colonel for Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron. Aleesha Camp is the Honorary Colonel for 429 Transport Squadron (Law Firm Founder – Camp and Burgess and Elston Camp). Lorraine O’Quinn is Honorary Colonel of 8 Air Communication and Control Squadron (O’Quinn Team – Royal Lepage). Chandy Davis (Electro Cables) was also one of the evening’s title sponsors.
In addition, Lorraine O’Quinn was presented with The Family Coin, for her support of military families including a scholarship for a military child entering post-secondary school.
She told her story of being posted to 8 Wing with her husband Tom.
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Trenton MFRC Executive Director Tamara Kleinschmidt (l) and Honorary Colonel Lorraine O’Quinn at the Invisible Ribbon Gala (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
TMFRC Executive Director Tamara Kleinschmidt tells Quinte News that although they are funded by the federal government, they need to raise funds for the unexpected.
“We are funded by the Department of National Defence to do programming around relocation and absences. But families often have issues that are unexpected, particularly when you move them halfway across the country.”
Kleinschmidt shared a story of her own experience of the military.
8 Wing Commander Leighton James began the evening with comments on military families, which are not just good supporters of the military, but good humans.
A video was shown focusing on former mayor of Trenton William Alexander Fraser. Fraser was not just a former mayor, he was instrumental in helping to bring the RCAF to Trenton. He would go on to become a Member of Parliament and a Senator. Fraser is also a relative of the James family, who are known for Trenton Cold Storage, and incredible support across the Quinte region.
Commander James spoke of the legacy of the family in our region.
“And the legacy that you just saw up here, with Mr Fraser, has continued with the James family to this day. It is my honour today, to present to the James family, one of the 100 unique coins for the RCAF Centennial”
For more on what the Trenton MFRC does for military families – CLICK HERE
