Whenever a
Canadian soldier is killed in Afghanistan, his remains are flown to Canadian Forces Base Trenton (in Ontario). Once there, an Honour Guard, including the Governor-General of Canada and the Chief of Defense Staff meet the plane and speak with the family expressing the sympathies of not only themselves, but of Canadians in general. Then the family and the soldier take an amazing ride to Toronto and the Forensic Science Centre along a stretch of highway officially designated as "The Highway of
Heroes". The Ontario Provincial Police, Military Police and Regional Police services along the way provide escorts for the convoy.
The ride is amazing for several reasons. First, every overpass on the highway (almost 100 miles) is lined with paramedic vehicles, police cars, fire trucks and ordinary people waving Canadian flags, saluting the fallen and thanking the families for their sacrifice.
The second amazing thing is that the families of the fallen are frequently seen leaning out the car windows waving to the people on the bridge.
Finally, this is Canada. The land of mediocrity and "grey faced" people known around the world as a polite but subdued people.
British newspapers recently criticised their citizens (and their police) for an appalling lack of respect towards their fallen
soldiers and they used Canada as an example of how to do it properly.
It brings a tear to my eye each and every time I stand with my fellow Canadians to show some patriotism and respect for our fallen soldiers. I try not to miss any of them.
You may not agree with the war, you may not support the war, but you can always support the people who fight it for us. From any nation or any overpass.
