Not looking forward to it Bob, but I'll be there.

BTW, I already have tears in my eyes.

The military has identified the four Canadian soldiers killed in a blast that also killed a journalist.

They are Sgt. George Miok, 28, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, both of Edmonton, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, of Yarmouth, N.S., and Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21, of Cambridge, Ont.

The soldiers, along with Michelle Lang of the Calgary Herald, were killed by a powerful explosion Wednesday during a patrol in Kandahar city.

67HEAVEN wrote:

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The military has identified the four Canadian soldiers killed in a blast that also killed a journalist.

They are Sgt. George Miok, 28, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, both of Edmonton, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, of Yarmouth, N.S., and Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21, of Cambridge, Ont.

The soldiers, along with Michelle Lang of the Calgary Herald, were killed by a powerful explosion Wednesday during a patrol in Kandahar city.

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O, land of blue unending skies,
Mountains strong and sparkling snow,
A scent of freedom in the wind,
O'er the emerald fields below.

To thee we brought our hopes, our dreams,
For thee we stand together,
Our land of peace, where proudly flies,
The Maple Leaf forever.

Chorus:
Long may it wave, and grace our own,
Blue skies and stormy weather,
Within my heart, above my home,
The Maple Leaf forever!

O, Maple Leaf around the world,
You speak as you rise high above,
Of courage, peace and quiet strength,
Of the Canada that I love.

Remind us all, our union bound
By ties we cannot sever,
Bright flag revered on every ground,
The Maple Leaf forever!

Chorus:
Long may it wave, and grace our own,
Blue skies and stormy weather,
Within my heart, above my home,
The Maple Leaf forever!

Gentlemen,

Can we please leave any political comment out of this thread?

On the bridges, I have never heard any discussion pro or con as it relates to the rationale for the mission, or whether the government is right or wrong in sending our troops there.

There is nothing but solid support for the troops. I don't know if the person standing next to me voted Conservative, Liberal or NDP, and I don't care, as long as they are there to show support.

Honouring our heroes is simply about supporting the men and women who have volunteered to serve and have been wounded or have died as a result.

Assuming that Michelle Lang's body will also be taken to the Chief Coroner's Office in Toronto, there will be five hearses coming at us, rather than the expected four.

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TRENTON Late Thursday evening, military officials announced the Calgary reporter killed with four soldiers will be repatriated with them Sunday at CFB Trenton.

"Its the first time we've repatriated somebody that wasn't a Canadian Forces member," Repatriation Officer Captain Wayne Johnston said.

Michelle Lang, a journalist from Calgary, was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) along with Sgt. George Miok, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack and Pte. Garrett William Chidley on Dec. 30.

"She will be on the aircraft when it comes into Trenton and will be taken off the plane like she was a Canadian Forces member," Johnston said.

"She was in Afghanistan obviously doing the job she loved."

The award-winning journalist is the first Canadian member of the media to be killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

"She died with soldiers telling the story about soldiers and the good work they are doing in Afghanistan," Johnston said.

Johnston said though this is the first time in the history of the military a civilian has been repatriated, everyone felt it was the right thing to do. Military members involved with repatriations, along with high-ranking military officials in Ottawa, consulted on the details of Lang's return.

SOURCE - http://northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2243785

jmont64 wrote:

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Good for you guys. Great for you to bundle up and give encouragement. Looks like the wind even cooperated and gave your flag full effect. Keep it up. You're definitely our faithful representatives.

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