Remembering Our Heroes

Friday, November 11 is Remembrance Day here in Canada.

On this day, last year, I wrote a blog post about how Canada honours our men and women who lost their lives while on mission in Afghanistan.

Our Highway of Heroes is a stretch of Highway 401 between Canadian Forces Base Trenton and the city of Toronto. It is along this road where Canadians gather on overpasses to pay tribute, gratitude and respect to our fallen soldiers as they return home for the final time.

On June 29th of this past summer, Frank and I were returning from a stay up at the cottage. As we passed CFB Trenton, we noticed that a few folks had collected on the overpass just beyond the exit. We quickly realized that they gathered for the repatriation of Master Cpl. Francis Roy who had lost his life in Afghanistan a few days earlier. He served with our country's special forces regiment and sadly died of non-combat related injuries. No further explanation was ever given, nor has it been required. The devastation of war affects both body and soul.

As Frank and I carried on along the highway toward home, we continued to see grateful citizens and veterans collect on the bridges or in the fields lining the westbound highway.

We had a quite a few miles to go before we arrived home but it dawned on me that since folks were continuing to gather, we were significantly ahead of the procession, and there would be time for me to join them on the bridge once we arrived in Bowmanville.

We quickly dropped suitcases and perishables off at the house and then Frank drove me over to a spot near the overpass.

Others were standing by, and they welcomed me as I joined them on the bridge.

As we waited for the procession to arrive, support was shown with the wave of our country's flag.

Passing cars showed their encouragement and appreciation with a series of honks or a supportive gesture.

Much about this solemn, patriotic event made me wish I hadn't forgotten to bring tissues with me.

Soon, representatives from the local fire department arrived, and those who previously stood watch understood that this signaled that the procession would soon pass by.

Within a few minutes, I heard someone say "Here they come," and all eyes looked eastward, over the highway below.

The hearse and official vehicles passed by silently.

Flags were rolled up.

And the group quietly dispersed.

As I walked back to Frank's, I thought about Master Cpl. Francis Roy and his family, and I hoped he would be the last Canadian to lose his life in Afghanistan.

I also thought about my fellow blogger, Gabi, also known as CorvusCorvax12 (previously known as Twain12), who lost her own beautiful boy, Patrick to this mission in 2007. My heart aches for her and her family's loss. Knowing somebody, even if only through text, brings it much closer to home.

Of course, I thought a lot about my own son, Jeffrey who thankfully remains safely on Canadian soil, taking courses which will train him for his military career in Air Traffic and Air Weapons Control.

I wanted this to be the last time Canadians would have to stand upon a bridge to witness one of our own coming home. Sadly, this was not to be the case. Just a couple of weeks ago, we lost yet another young soldier - Master Cpl. Byron Greff a young father of two who had been home on leave just four days earlier to meet his newborn daughter. He was our fifth loss since this time last year. May he be the final loss our country endures.

Canadians across the nation have been buying and wearing poppies for the past couple of weeks. Please join us at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of this eleventh month, in our duty and privilege, by remembering our heroes with two minutes of silence.

The names of the 158 soldiers who have traveled the Highway of Heroes appear below.

Sgt. Scott Shipway, 36 • Cpl. Andrew Grenon, 23 • Cpl. Mike Seggie, 21 • Pte. Chad Horn, 21 • Sgt. Shawn Eades, 33 • Sapper Stephan John Stock, 25 • Cpl. Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Wasden, 25 • Master Cpl. Erin Doyle, 32 • Master Cpl. Josh Roberts, 30 • Cpl. James Hayward Arnal, 25 • Pte. Colin William Wilmot, 24 • Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey, 37 • Capt. Jonathan Sutherland Snyder, 26 • Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary, 32 • Cpl. Michael Starker, 36 • Pte. Terry John Street, 24 • Sgt. Jason Boyes, 32 • Bombardier Jeremie Ouellet, 22 • Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze, 25 • Cpl. Etienne Gonthier, 21 • Trooper Richard Renaud, 26 • Cpl. Eric Labbe, 31 • Warrant Officer Hani Massouh, 41 • Cpl. Kevin Megeney, 25 • Sgt. Donald Lucas, 31 • Cpl. Aaron E. Williams, 23 • Pte. Kevin Vincent Kennedy, 20 • Pte. David Robert Greenslade, 20 • Cpl. Christopher Paul Stannix, 24 • Cpl. Brent Donald Poland, 37 • Master Cpl. Allan Stewart, 31 • Trooper Patrick James Pentland, 23 • Master Cpl. Anthony Klumpenhouwer, 25 • Cpl. Matthew McCully, 25 • Master Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede, 30 • Trooper Darryl Caswell, 25 • Cpl. Stephen Frederick Bouzane, 26 • Pte. Joel Vincent Wiebe, 22 • Sgt. Christos Karigiannis, 30 • Capt. Matthew Johnathan Dawe, 27 • Master Cpl. Colin Bason, 28 • Cpl. Cole Bartsch, 23 • Pte. Lane Watkins, 20 • Cpl. Jordan Anderson, 25 • Capt. Jefferson Francis, 37 • Pte Simon Longtin, 23 • Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier, 43 • Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne, 34 • Major Raymond Ruckpaul, 42 • Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, 24 • Cpl. Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp, 28 • Pte. Michel Levesque, 25 • Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27 • Cpl. Paul Davis, 28 • Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson, 30 • Pte. Robert Costall, 22 • Cpl. Matthew Dinning, 23 • Bombardier Myles Mansell, 25 • Cpl. Randy Payne, 32 • Lieut. William Turner, 45 • Capt. Nichola Goddard, 26 • Cpl. Anthony Boneca, 21 • Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44 • Cpl. Jason Warren, 29 • Pte. Kevin Dallaire, 22 • Sgt. Vaughan Ingram, 35 • Cpl. Bryce Keller, 27 8 Cpl. Christopher Reid, 34 • Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt, 31 • Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, 33 • Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom, 23 • Cpl. David Braun, 27 • Pte. William Cushley, 21 • Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, 38 • Warrant Officer Richard Nolan, 39 • Sgt. Shane Stachnik, 30 • Pte. Mark Anthony Graham, 33 • Cpl. Glen Arnold, 32 • Pte. David Byers, 22 • Cpl. Shane Keating, 30 • Cpl. Keith Morley, 30 • Pte. Josh Klukie, 23 • Sgt. Craig Gillam, 40 • Cpl. Robert Mitchell, 32 • Trooper Mark Wilson, 39 • Sgt. Darcy Tedford, 32 • Pte. Blake Williamson, 23 • Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard, 46 • Cpl. Albert Storm, 36 • Pte. Braun Woodfield, 24 • Cpl. Jamie Murphy, 26 • Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger, 29 • Sgt. Robert Short, 42 • Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, 24 • Pte. Richard Green, 21 • Sgt. Marc Leger, 29 • Pte. Nathan Smith, 26 • Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren, 23 • Pte. Demetrios Diplaros, 25 • Warrant Officer Robert Wilson, 37 • Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton, 26 • Pte. John Michael Roy Curwin, 26 • Pte. Justin Peter Jones, 21 • Private Michael Freeman, 28 • Warrant Officer Gaetan Roberge, 45 • Sgt. Gregory John Kruse, 40 • Trooper Brian Richard Good, 42 • Sapper Sean Greenfield, 25 • Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown, 38 • Cpl. Dany Fortin, 29 • Cpl. Kenneth O’Quinn, 25 • Trooper Marc Diab, 22 • Master Cpl. Scott Vernelli, 28 • Cpl. Tyler Crooks, 24 • Trooper Jack Bouthillier, 20 • Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes, 22 • Trooper Karine Blais, 21 • Major Michelle Mendes, 30 • Private Alexandre Péloquin, 20 • Corporal Martin Dubé, 35 • Corporal Nicholas Bulger, 30 • Master Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud, 28 • Master Corporal Pat Audet, 38 • Corporal Martin Joannette, 25 • Private Sébastien Courcy, 26 • Corporal Christian Bobbitt, 23 • Sapper Matthieu Allard, 21 • Major Yannick Pépin, 36 • Corporal Jean-Francois Drouin, 31 • Private Patrick Lormand, 21 • Private Jonathan Couturier, 23 • Lieutenant Justin Garrett Boyes, 26 • Sapper Steven Marshall, 24 • Lieutenant Andrew Nuttal, 30 • Sergeant George Miok, 28 • Corporal Zachery McCormack, 21 • Private Garrett William Chidley, 21 • Sergeant Kirk Taylor, 28 • Sergeant John Wayne Fraught, 44 • Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker, 24 • Corporal Darren James Fitzpatrick, 21 • Private Tyler William Todd, 26 • Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake, 37 • Private Kevin Thomas McKay, 24 • Colonel Geoff Parker, 42 • Trooper Larry Rudd, 26 • Sergeant Martin Goudreault, 35 • Sergeant James MacNeil, 28 • Master Corporal Kristal Giesebrecht, 34 • Private Andrew Miller, 21 • Sapper Brian Collier, 24 • Corporal Brian Pinksen, 21 • Corporal Steve Martin, 24 • Corporal Yannick Scherrer, 24 • Bombardier Karl Manning, 31 • Master Corporal Francis Roy, 31 • Master Corporal Byron Greff, 26

Rest easy.

True Patriot Love

Today, at the eleventh hour of this eleventh day of the eleventh month, Canada and many other countries around the world will honour our war heroes with two minutes of silence. I'd like to tell you about how we Canadians also honour our men and women who have lost their lives while on mission in Afghanistan.

In southern Ontario, there is a 172 kilometre (107 mile) stretch of our main Highway 401 between Canadian Forces Base Trenton and Toronto. It is along this route that our citizens pay tribute to our fallen soldiers as they return home for the final time.

It began in 2002, when the first of our servicemen who died in Afghanistan was repatriated. In the city of Oshawa, a few dozen citizens and police officers gathered upon an overpass to salute as the hearse passed underneath. They were there to show their respect, gratitude and support.

As Canada endured more losses in Afghanistan, this movement grew. More and more civilians, veterans, police and firefighters gather and wait on the many overpasses along this long stretch of highway to honour our fallen. From children to the elderly, and every age in between, they appear from all walks of life, and wait for hours through all kinds of weather to show their pride, respect, and sorrow for the fallen, and support for their families. In silence, the procession drives by, beneath the many overpasses which are lined by people - hands over hearts, who salute and wave flags in tribute.

This stretch of Canada's busiest Highway 401 has officially since been named The Highway of Heroes.

There are many poignant images in the video below, which I found on YouTube. The song Highway of Heroes was written and performed by the Canadian band The Trews and can be purchased through iTunes. Net proceeds go to the Canadian Hero Fund which provides scholarships to the families of fallen soldiers.

(If you're reading this post via email, you'll have to click on my blog to see the video)

By Remembrance Day 2008, we had lost 97 of our sons and daughters in Afghanistan, and I listed these soldiers names then. By April, 2009, we lost 20 more and their names appear here. In May of 2009, my son, Jeffrey wrote a blog post for me about what it means to him to be a soldier and at the bottom of that post, I designed an image showing the 117 faces of our lost soldiers blended with our Canadian Flag. That post and image can be seen here. By this time last year, we lost an additional 16 men and women in Afghanistan and the numbers totaled 133. Their names are here.

Today, too many more names have been added to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Our number of fallen now total 152. The additional 19 names since last November are below.

Lieutenant Andrew Nuttal, 30 • Sergeant George Miok, 28 • Corporal Zachery McCormack, 21 • Private Garrett William Chidley, 21 • Sergeant Kirk Taylor, 28 • Sergeant John Wayne Fraught, 44 • Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker, 24 • Corporal Darren James Fitzpatrick, 21 • Private Tyler William Todd, 26 • Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake, 37 • Private Kevin Thomas McKay, 24 • Colonel Geoff Parker, 42 • Trooper Larry Rudd, 26 • Sergeant Martin Goudreault, 35 • Sergeant James MacNeil, 28 • Master Corporal Kristal Giesebrecht, 34 • Private Andrew Miller, 21 • Sapper Brian Collier, 24 • Corporal Brian Pinksen, 21

The photos and stories of all 152 men and women lost since 2002 can be found here.

Please remember your duty and privilege to honour our heroes with two minutes of silence.

To the many who have made the ultimate sacrifice, thank you.

Lest we forget.

Remembering Our Heroes

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and several other countries around the world. My son, Jeffrey, along with his Squadron from Royal Military College (RMC) will be in our Nation's Capital to participate in the ceremonies. He has worked hard to organize their involvement in two separate parades and is proud that his Squadron, which currently holds the right of line position (top Squadron) was chosen to represent RMC in Ottawa on this day.

The main parade will be held at the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The second one will take place at the National Military Cemetery. My son will be the Guard Commander for the latter parade. He will be wearing scarlets and a pith helmet, and will carry a sword. He and his Squadron will also have the honour of being the first marching contingent behind the Veterans in this parade. It's uncertain if this will be televised but I'll be watching for him anyway. You can view a live feed on the CBC website at 10 am Eastern Time. Just click on "Audio & Video - Lest We Forget"

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, please pause to honour those who have given their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom we assume as our right. Two minutes - it's a mere pittance of time.

The background of this song and video can be found here.

97 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan. They are:

Sgt. Scott Shipway, 36 • Cpl. Andrew Grenon, 23 • Cpl. Mike Seggie, 21 • Pte. Chad Horn, 21 • Sgt. Shawn Eades, 33 • Sapper Stephan John Stock, 25 • Cpl. Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Wasden, 25 • Master Cpl. Erin Doyle, 32 • Master Cpl. Josh Roberts, 30 • Cpl. James Hayward Arnal, 25 • Pte. Colin William Wilmot, 24 • Cpl. Brendan Anthony Downey, 37 • Capt. Jonathan Sutherland Snyder, 26 • Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary, 32 • Cpl. Michael Starker, 36 • Pte. Terry John Street, 24 • Sgt. Jason Boyes, 32 • Bombardier Jeremie Ouellet, 22 • Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze, 25 • Cpl. Etienne Gonthier, 21 • Trooper Richard Renaud, 26 • Cpl. Eric Labbe, 31 • Warrant Officer Hani Massouh, 41 • Cpl. Kevin Megeney, 25 • Sgt. Donald Lucas, 31 • Cpl. Aaron E. Williams, 23 • Pte. Kevin Vincent Kennedy, 20 • Pte. David Robert Greenslade, 20 • Cpl. Christopher Paul Stannix, 24 • Cpl. Brent Donald Poland, 37 • Master Cpl. Allan Stewart, 31 • Trooper Patrick James Pentland, 23 • Master Cpl. Anthony Klumpenhouwer, 25 • Cpl. Matthew McCully, 25 • Master Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede, 30 • Trooper Darryl Caswell, 25 • Cpl. Stephen Frederick Bouzane, 26 • Pte. Joel Vincent Wiebe, 22 • Sgt. Christos Karigiannis, 30 • Capt. Matthew Johnathan Dawe, 27 • Master Cpl. Colin Bason, 28 • Cpl. Cole Bartsch, 23 • Pte. Lane Watkins, 20 • Cpl. Jordan Anderson, 25 • Capt. Jefferson Francis, 37 • Pte Simon Longtin, 23 • Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier, 43 • Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne, 34 • Major Raymond Ruckpaul, 42 • Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, 24 • Cpl. Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp, 28 • Pte. Michel Levesque, 25 • Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27 • Cpl. Paul Davis, 28 • Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson, 30 • Pte. Robert Costall, 22 • Cpl. Matthew Dinning, 23 • Bombardier Myles Mansell, 25 • Cpl. Randy Payne, 32 • Lieut. William Turner, 45 • Capt. Nichola Goddard, 26 • Cpl. Anthony Boneca, 21 • Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44 • Cpl. Jason Warren, 29 • Pte. Kevin Dallaire, 22 • Sgt. Vaughan Ingram, 35 • Cpl. Bryce Keller, 27 8 Cpl. Christopher Reid, 34 • Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt, 31 • Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, 33 • Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom, 23 • Cpl. David Braun, 27 • Pte. William Cushley, 21 • Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, 38 • Warrant Officer Richard Nolan, 39 • Sgt. Shane Stachnik, 30 • Pte. Mark Anthony Graham, 33 • Cpl. Glen Arnold, 32 • Pte. David Byers, 22 • Cpl. Shane Keating, 30 • Cpl. Keith Morley, 30 • Pte. Josh Klukie, 23 • Sgt. Craig Gillam, 40 • Cpl. Robert Mitchell, 32 • Trooper Mark Wilson, 39 • Sgt. Darcy Tedford, 32 • Pte. Blake Williamson, 23 • Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard, 46 • Cpl. Albert Storm, 36 • Pte. Braun Woodfield, 24 • Cpl. Jamie Murphy, 26 • Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger, 29 • Sgt. Robert Short, 42 • Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, 24 • Pte. Richard Green, 21 • Sgt. Marc Leger, 29 • Pte. Nathan Smith, 26

May we never forget.