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Shared with the usual disclaimer: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/07/08/4322741-sun.html
Fallen soldiers to get special tribute
By JOE WARMINGTON
It will be an eerie scene along the Highway of Heroes later today.
After they land back on Canadian soil at about 5 p.m., six black hearses will carry Capt. Matthew Dawe, Master Cpl. Colin Bason, Cpl. Cole Bartsch, Cpl. Jordan Anderson, Pte. Lane Watkins and Capt. Jefferson Francis home.
And, as they make their way out of CFB Trenton at about 6 p.m., the very men and women who patrol the Highway of Heroes they will travel on will honour them in a very moving and special tribute.
In fact, a saluting OPP officer will be on bridges on Highway 401, between CFB Trenton and Toronto, as a unique funeral procession edges west. Each car, which already dons a yellow-ribbon decal, will also have its lights flashing.
"Wherever possible we will have a car and an officer on a bridge," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said yesterday. "This is very personal for us because, as Canadians, we understand the country called and these fine young men responded."
SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS
It's the latest in an abundance of support for our troops. OPP officers in several detachments west of CFB Trenton will take part.
"It's something our people really wanted to do," said Fantino. "We are 100% behind our troops and this is our way of paying our respects for their sacrifice. This is for these six great Canadians -- for every Canadian soldier in our history who sacrificed themselves for freedom. It is the supreme sacrifice."
People in Toronto will also have the opportunity to pay their respects, too. It's difficult to be precise, but sometime after 8 p.m., the procession will head south on the Don Valley Parkway, exit on Bloor St., head west to Sherbourne St. and go along Carlton St., toward the Centre for Forensic Sciences, on Grenville St.
Toronto's terrific firefighters will also be at two fire halls along the route in full salute.
Several city councillors are hoping to raise the issue at a future Toronto council meeting to see if they can allow fire trucks to honour the soldiers on some bridges as well. But for now, due to "safety concerns," they are not able to deploy them there. Hopefully there will not be any future need for such a procession.
In the meantime, the latest casualties from the war in Afghanistan will travel west along the Highway of Heroes to downtown Toronto's Streets of Support. Along the way there will be civilians, fire departments, military and police personnel. It has become a very sad, upsetting ritual.
RETURNED HOME
So far, the bodies of 60 soldiers have returned home and the protocol has basically been the same. It will be 66 today. So far, every time people have come out of their homes, out of their cars, trucks and off their motorcycles to say, "Thanks."
People are sending the message they support the troops, but there's no politics here. There's nothing official about it. When the procession of hearses leave CFB Trenton, people seem to respond. It's just support for the troops and a pat on the back for all they do.
The OPP has been involved in escorting every procession so far, but wanted to do more.
"We have a number of families who have been very effected by this," said Fantino. "In fact, we have an OPP officer in theatre and have families related to two of the soldiers who have died and families to three more who have been wounded."
And that's another reason why the OPP will join Canadians all along the Highway of Heroes to salute them today.
Fallen soldiers to get special tribute
By JOE WARMINGTON
It will be an eerie scene along the Highway of Heroes later today.
After they land back on Canadian soil at about 5 p.m., six black hearses will carry Capt. Matthew Dawe, Master Cpl. Colin Bason, Cpl. Cole Bartsch, Cpl. Jordan Anderson, Pte. Lane Watkins and Capt. Jefferson Francis home.
And, as they make their way out of CFB Trenton at about 6 p.m., the very men and women who patrol the Highway of Heroes they will travel on will honour them in a very moving and special tribute.
In fact, a saluting OPP officer will be on bridges on Highway 401, between CFB Trenton and Toronto, as a unique funeral procession edges west. Each car, which already dons a yellow-ribbon decal, will also have its lights flashing.
"Wherever possible we will have a car and an officer on a bridge," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said yesterday. "This is very personal for us because, as Canadians, we understand the country called and these fine young men responded."
SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS
It's the latest in an abundance of support for our troops. OPP officers in several detachments west of CFB Trenton will take part.
"It's something our people really wanted to do," said Fantino. "We are 100% behind our troops and this is our way of paying our respects for their sacrifice. This is for these six great Canadians -- for every Canadian soldier in our history who sacrificed themselves for freedom. It is the supreme sacrifice."
People in Toronto will also have the opportunity to pay their respects, too. It's difficult to be precise, but sometime after 8 p.m., the procession will head south on the Don Valley Parkway, exit on Bloor St., head west to Sherbourne St. and go along Carlton St., toward the Centre for Forensic Sciences, on Grenville St.
Toronto's terrific firefighters will also be at two fire halls along the route in full salute.
Several city councillors are hoping to raise the issue at a future Toronto council meeting to see if they can allow fire trucks to honour the soldiers on some bridges as well. But for now, due to "safety concerns," they are not able to deploy them there. Hopefully there will not be any future need for such a procession.
In the meantime, the latest casualties from the war in Afghanistan will travel west along the Highway of Heroes to downtown Toronto's Streets of Support. Along the way there will be civilians, fire departments, military and police personnel. It has become a very sad, upsetting ritual.
RETURNED HOME
So far, the bodies of 60 soldiers have returned home and the protocol has basically been the same. It will be 66 today. So far, every time people have come out of their homes, out of their cars, trucks and off their motorcycles to say, "Thanks."
People are sending the message they support the troops, but there's no politics here. There's nothing official about it. When the procession of hearses leave CFB Trenton, people seem to respond. It's just support for the troops and a pat on the back for all they do.
The OPP has been involved in escorting every procession so far, but wanted to do more.
"We have a number of families who have been very effected by this," said Fantino. "In fact, we have an OPP officer in theatre and have families related to two of the soldiers who have died and families to three more who have been wounded."
And that's another reason why the OPP will join Canadians all along the Highway of Heroes to salute them today.
