Canada Day – The Navy Way

The .50-calibre machine gun crew is closed up, loaded and ready to shoot. Behind them, the weapons directing officer with a target illumination flare. The ship’s company stands by, waiting.

“.50 cal to ready! Flare to the stern standby. Gunners fire on target in range. Eyes! Eyes! Eyes! Ears! Ears! Ears! Flare out!”

A hissing sound and a trail of smoke leads up into the night sky. A few seconds, then the flare ignites and the machine guns open up. Tracer rounds split the darkness as they shoot.

This is Canada Day on a warship in the middle of the South Pacific. Our families back home are attending BBQs and fireworks. For us, there is no BBQ picnic. Alcohol is limited to two beer per man, and only if you’re off watch. Fireworks? We make our own. Paraflares and .50-calibre machine gun tracer rounds. Not as pretty as the fireworks back home, but it’s what we have available. And it is truly a unique way of celebrating the holiday.