THIS year's Queen's Birthday parade featured a first of sorts ? with a father-and-son duo participating in the pomp and pageantry.

Fifteen-year-old Jon Paul Dill beamed with pride as he shared the memorable experience with his equally proud father, firefighter Paul Dill.

The younger Dill seems destined to follow in his father's footsteps by joining the Bermuda Cadet Corps and hoping to eventually joining the Bermuda Regiment after he graduates from CedarBridge Academy.

Serving their country has always been a tradition in the Dill household as three generations of Dills have been involved in the military.

Paul's father, the late Hazzard (Flo) Dill, served during the Second World War and as an athlete repredsented Bermuda at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, while Paul volunteered for the Regiment after a successful stint with the Cadet Corps. Jon, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his late grandfather, credits the Bermuda Cadet Corps with providing him with a positive outlet on otherwise uneventful Friday evenings.

For the past two years the young Dill was put through his paces at Warwick Camp and said the experience had provided him with many of the necessary tools needed in being a team player.

"The summer programme is good for teaching us good organisational skills, have a positive outlook in life as well as effectively interacting with others," he explained.

WHEN Jon Paul isn't hitting the schoolbooks or toughing it out with his fellow Cadets, he enjoys a good soccer match or flying model planes with his father. Paul is pleased with his son's choice in extracurricular activity and both he and his wife wholeheartedly support their son's military ambitions.

Paul was also proud to be in the same parade with his son and credits his own youthful involvement with the Cadets and the Bermuda Regiment with inspiring him to become a firefighter.

With almost 20 years of firefighting under his belt, the older Dill anticipates he will be marching in Queen's Birthday parades with his son for years to come.

After his stint with the Regiment, Paul joined the Bermuda Fire Service not only as a career choice but knowing he could do his part in helping to put something back into the community. The excitement of knowing that he can help others and work with a cohesive unit of firefighters has had a positive impact on his son.

Jon's advice for his youthful counterparts is that "life is a game ? but to win the game you must play by the rules".

With a legion of family members and friends on hand to witness the proud moment on Front Street on Monday ? two generations of Dills marching for both Queen and country ? both Paul and Jon said they hoped their example might make other families realise the generation gap can be bridged when common interests are pursued with uncommon enthusiasm.