Coming Home Plaque

This plaque is dedicated to the former residents of the Permanent Married Quarters (PMQs). Following the closure of Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack, Canada Lands Company took over the management and future development of the site including the Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area. The housing was extensively renovated, the road network realigned and updated.

To preserve some of the military history of the area, Canada Lands Company has renamed the Permanent Married Quarters area "Garrison Crossing" and has installed a few historical elements in the housing development including this plaque. During the existence of Canadian Forces Base  Chilliwack, the Permanent Married Quarters area was previously known as "Mitchell Gardens" in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, VC.

The plaque is featured along the Garrison Crossing Legacy Walk.

[plaque]

Garrison Crossing 

Coming Home 

This residential area was once the center of family life at the former CFB Chilliwack. It was where military personnel and their families lived together and supported one another. In true military tradition, the Permanent Married Quarters were allocated according to rank. Invisible “fences” existed throughout the neighbourhood separating non-commissioned personnel- Privates, Corporals and Master Corporals- from Sergeants and Warrant Officers, as well as from the commissioned officers- Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Lieutenant-Colonels and Colonels. Military personnel from CFB Chilliwack participated in both WW II and the Korean War. They also had roles in various UN peacekeeping missions, including the Suez canal security forces (1950’s), Cyprus (1960’s), the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the former Yugoslavia in 1994 and Bosnia in 1996/1997. Every soldier’s homecoming was a time of happiness, pride and relief for military families. Nothing compared to the anticipation of returning, the first glimpse of spouses and children after time apart, tears of joy and long awaited, heartfelt embrace.

Le retour au foyer 

Ce secteur résidentiel était autrefois le cœur de la vie familiale à l’ancienne BFC Chilliwack. C’était ici que les militaires et leurs familles habitaient et se voisinaient. Dans la tradition militaire, les logements étaient répartis selon le rang. Des barrières invisibles divisaient le quartier en secteurs réservés aux militaires du rand comme les privés, caporals et caporal-chefs, aux sous-officiers comme les sergeants et adjutants, et aux officiers, comme les lieutenants, capitaines, majors, lieutenant-colonels et colonels. Les militaires de la BFC Chilliwack on combattu durant la Deuxième Guerre mondiale et la Guerre de Corée. Ils ont aussi participé à diverses missions de maintien de la paix de l’ONU, notamment la force de sécurité déployée au Canal de Suez (années 1950), à Chypre (années 1960), le conflit du golfe Persique en 1991, l’ancienne Yougoslavie en 1994 et la Bosnie en 1996-1997. À chaque retour de mission, les familles des militaires célébraient dans la joie, la fierté et le soulagement. Il est difficile d’imaginer l’attente, le premier moment avec les époux et les enfants après une longue absence, les larmes de joie et les baisers attendus depuis si longtemps.