Col DK Todd

I was honoured to be asked to write the first editorial for The Shilo Observer, our community newspaper in its new form.
After careful consideration, I accepted the invitation because it gives me the opportunity to express a credo – not necessarily the editor’s credo — that we live, breathe and have our existence here.
Everyone at Shilo is “in service.” The men, by virtue of being in the military; our wives and children, who are part of us.
Some of the wives have had their lot in uniform, of course, too. No one is here to make a fortune; that doesn’t happen in the military.
To quote an old expression, “We don’t make a lot of money, but we see life.” It’s inescapable: no one can dodge it, which makes Shilo unique.
For much of our population, life in the military in peacetime is something new.
We know the sacrifices some have made and continue to make — we have 88 families on the waiting list for emergency family housing at the time of writing — but nothing has been handed to the military on a platter.
The regiment to which most of us belong turns three-quarters of a century old this year, and from time immemorial the armed services have never been showered with favors and indulgences, nor will they ever be, except in times of war.
But the satisfaction of a job well done has always been reward enough and, I hope, always will be.
I am not talking about sitting in difficulties without lifting a finger. Every amenity we have has been achieved through the selfless effort of someone in the service of the rest.
No one can imagine that it was pleasant in this weather to fill sandbags for the pool, and the people who filled them certainly received nothing tangible for their efforts. But it was a service.
There is much more to come and much more to do – but again, it will come and be done, not for a reward but through selfless service.
Among the new features is The Shilo Observer, the successor to the Bulletin. It is not printed for gain or glory, but to help us all, to be of service, and it is an example of what I believe is a vital part of our life here; good luck to it and its staff.