as we all celebrate christmas at home take a moment to remember those members of the armed forces, who are currenly serving and are away from thier families,
for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, you will not be forgotten, thank you for your service
His body is scheduled to arrive in Trenton on Sunday. More details soon.
The plane carrying Lt. Nuttalll's body is expected to arrive at Canadian Forces Base Trenton at 2 p.m. Following a short ceremony the repatriation motorcade will make its way to the coroner's office in Toronto along Hwy. 401. If on schedule, the motorcade is expected to reach Cobourg around 3:15 p.m. and Whitby by 4 p.m.
Usually start heading down the Don Valley Parkway into Toronto about 4:20 pm, we go to Spanbridge and the cortege gets there about 4:30 pm, which is Don Mills & Overlea. Many bridges in the City are arterial roadways and it is very difficult to stand on them because they have no real sidewalks and are not that safe. You could also go to Wynford which is Eglinton and Don Mills or the Leaside bridge but it is about 200 feet above the roadway, the Leaside bridge is the last one before the cortege heads into the city and passes through the streets lined with those paying their respects.
My son wants to go to the Leaside Bridge, two minutes from home, this time even though it is high, you would be able to see the cortege a far distance, probably as far away as Spanbridge which would be about 2 miles up the Parkway. For me I would rather be lower and see the faces and the hands of appreciation.
-- Edited by 73SC on Friday 25th of December 2009 02:02:48 PM
Just got an e-mail from my nephew in Kandahar. Said this week was a "downer" The cook threw Flour on their little patch of grass to make it look like Home. Also was a bombing in the city with local casualties.But he said the Mission Rolls On.
The plane carrying Lt. Nuttalll's body is expected to arrive at Canadian Forces Base Trenton at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28. Following a short ceremony the repatriation motorcade will make its way to the coroner's office in Toronto along Hwy. 401. If on schedule, the motorcade is expected to reach Cobourg shortly after 3 p.m. and Whitby by 3:45 p.m.
Some media continues to say that Sunday is the day. And, I found one newspaper site that said Monday in the headline and Sunday in the first paragraph of the story.
But, the best information I have is that Monday is the day.
Don Cherry just did his tribute to Lt. Nuttall on Coaches corner. Seems he was a good hockey player, not that this surprises any of us. Don had a nice shot of "Nuts" and his teammates plus some other good photos. For all his bravado and toughness doing these tributes always brings a crackle in Cherry's voice and I suspect a tear or two in his eyes as his reads the particular story.
Another thing that you may not know is that every Saturday night Home game in Toronto a veteran of a tour in Afghanistan is treated to a night of hockey by the Leafs. The soldier is introduced usually in the third period during a TV break, so you wouldn't see it on the game broadcast, and I have never been there that he did not receive a standing ovation.
Lt. Nuttall (#134) left Northumberland County at 3:45 pm and is on his way through Durham Region to Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and then on to Toronto.
-- Edited by 67HEAVEN on Monday 28th of December 2009 03:57:38 PM
i couldn't go today, work thing. but my wife and son went and stood on the bridge. she said the mounties looked cold.
Steve,
My wife and I spent 45 minutes on the bridge this afternoon. It was the coldest I've been since last winter on the bridge. I couldn't help thinking about those hardy souls who cleared the forests by hand and settled this great land so long ago. All without electricity, running water or central heating. No cars. No trucks. No tractors. No power tools. Often, no friends for many miles.
Bob, its good that you could get out. Even at work I'm right beside the ramp and can see them from the back of the building. I had my UN ball cap on today in support. My wife said the fireman were even standing on top of the firetrucks in that cold. small price to pay in comparison.
Ray, I and his son Ryan were on one of the bridges over the DVP today. Bob is right, it was bitterly cold and my hands almost froze through my gloves holding my Canadian flag over the railing with Ryan, but it was a small sacrifice compared to what those who passed below have given. When the family of Lt. Nuttal opened the windows of the limo and acknowledged our presence with a big wave, I got a real big lump in my throat...
__________________
Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
I wasn't very good today with the camera, it was so cold as Hillar says, I put up what I have so you can at least get an idea.
No Motorcycles today, advance cars starts to clear the Parkway
All clear
Northbound traffic begins to stop in honour
Cortege appears (sorry for the blur)
Hillar and Ryan show the colours
I noticed today an OPP Black & White cruiser in the cruisers pacing the traffic in the rear today as well as a stealth Toronto Police car. I hadn't noticed that before, usually all marked Toronto units. We did get the customary siren blips from many of the police cars and the flashing high beams and horns from the citizens passing below before and after the cortege passed. As Hillar mentioned it is always an emotional moment when the windows of the Limousines roll down and the hands appear.
We were 6 on this bridge today so we are glad we went. Every time there is the same EMS supervisor and I noticed a woman I have seen before. For only six we had two large flags so we know our presence was a comfort to Lt. Nuttal's loved ones.
PS. The cortege passed our location at 4:35 pm. The last two times Bob emailed me the time it passes his location at Port Hope. Today is was 3:40 pm so it is almost one hour between the to locations. The EMS supervisor has radio contact so he usually gives us updates when we arrive. Today we arrived at 4;20 and the cortege was at Meadowvale and the 401, just inside the Toronto city limits.
-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 01:10:57 AM
For those of us who live close enough we are happy to go because we know we represent thousands who would attend if they were near. We post the photos so you can all get a sense of what it is like and in your corner of Canada you can feel and see something that has become a tribute and a comfort. As Canadians and Ontarioans all along the route we do it for all of you who can't but would.
For those of us who live close enough we are happy to go because we know we represent thousands who would attend if they were near. We post the photos so you can all get a sense of what it is like and in your corner of Canada you can feel and see something that has become a tribute and a comfort. As Canadians and Ontarioans all along the route we do it for all of you who can't but would.
And, then, watch as the same Kevin Tibbles (a proud Canadian I might add) presents his video story to everyone watching NBC Nightly News.
If you watched the video, you saw the reaction of Darlene Cushman, the mother of Darryl Caswell of Bowmanville, Ontario. Now you really know how the families feel about the Highway of Heroes.
I just finished watching a very moving movie, "Taking Chance". It is about the final journey home to Wyoming of a 19 year old Marine private from Iraq. It is based on a true story. Kevin Bacon plays the colonel that escorts him home and the movie is all about how just normal people react along the route to honour him and the response of all those in the small town where he is from. It also covers how Marine Corps. treats their own after they have fallen, and the care that is taken with the remains and preparing them for the trip home and funeral. In a way, it is like an extended version of a journey home on the Highway of Heroes.
Rent or buy this movie. It will also be shown again on HBO Canada on January 7th and 19th.
__________________
Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
