Banff - Airdrie MP Blake Richards received a special honour from the son of a distinguished veteran on Friday (July 21).

Mike Watkins presented Richards with his late father's framed rank insignia at the MP's Airdrie constituency office.  

Watkin's father, Chief Warrant Office H.C. (Shorty) Watkins served for more than 40 years in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCSigs).   Watkins joined the RCSigs in 1956 and served as Chief Warrant Officer until his retirement in 1997.  He was based in Calgary for most of his career but also served at bases in Trenton and Kingston, Ontario.  He served two tours in Germany with NATO and participated in UN Peacekeeping Tours in Cyprus and Egypt.

Richards was deeply moved by the honur.  "I was really touched by the gesture that Mike made to offer this to me as a way to carry on his dad's legacy and memory and, to me, that's really the important part.  Men like Shorty Watkins who dedicated his entire life to serving our country in uniform, it's those people who are the real heroes, those are the people who've fought for our freedoms.  The job that I do representing people in our democracy is only because of the sacrifices made by those in uniform.  I just thought it was a great opportunity for us to recognize a career of a great Canadian and many other great Canadians like him."

Mike Watkins says his dad was a constituent of Richards and was always impressed with the work Richards does for people in his riding, but even more by his straightforward approach.  "What impressed my father was the fact that Blake took the time and effort to answer his questions in an honest way, without any BS or sugar coating."  Richards says that's something he prides himself on.

"I try to be open, honest, direct and accountable with people.  It's nice to have someone recognize that in a way like this but it's not why you do it, you do it because it's the right thing to do."

Richards says Watkin's rank insignia will go up on the wall at his office.  It will take a place of honour right beside the World War One medals of his great-grandfather Edgar Mumford and the World War Two medals of his grandfather Mel Richards.

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