All I can say today is that this was a turnout and cortege befitting a veteran of 4 tours in Afghanistan.
There was not a dry eye on the bridge. I have never seen a cortege like this one in all the ones I have attended in Toronto. It was massive and included OPP, Military Police and Toronto Police, more Police by 6 times than usual, intermixed with traffic clearing the way. We know it is not a normal day here in Toronto and it was clear that no harm would come to this cortege as it entered the downtown streets. The cortege passed by us at a snails pace, I'd say 40 to 50 kph. This is totally out of the norm and this made it more emotional and personal. My photos will show the hands of Sgt. MacNeil's loved ones waving out the windows but I was busy waving back so not too many shots like that. The bridge was covered in Canadians of all colours and races, Police., EMS, Legion members, RCN. It was a huge outpouring of love.
Sadly yet Proudly Canadians stand alongside the Fence, the Highway on the bridges and overpasses to pay a proud salute to Sgt MacNeil and his family. They gathered for hours in the humid Ontario sun. To pay their respects for one fleeting moment as the Flag Draped Casket passed by in the hearse. It indeed makes one proud to be Canadian when you see the strength in numbers of people lining the 100 miles or so of "The Highway of Heroes"
An improvised explosive device struck an armoured vehicle in Afghanistan, killing two Canadian medics, the military said Saturday June 26, 2010.
Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht, 34, and Pvt. Andrew Miller, 21, were responding to a report that a mine was found in the doorway of a home when an IED detonated at about 11 a.m., killing them both about 20 km southwest of Kandahar.
A third soldier is in steady condition in a hospital at the Kandahar Airfield Base.
³Our thoughts are with the families and friends of our fallen soldiers during this difficult time. We will not forget the sacrifice of these soldiers as we continue to bring security and hope to the people of Kandahar Province,² said the Department of National Defence in a media release.
Both soldiers were members of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
Miller was born in Sudbury, Ont., and was based at CFB Petawawa. This was his first overseas mission.
Giesebrecht, the third Canadian woman to be killed in Afghanistan, was from Wallaceburg, Ont., and was also based at Petawawa.
Capt. Nicola Goddard of the 1st Regiment of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery was the first Canadian woman killed in Afghanista, in a grenade attack on May 17, 2006. Trooper Karine Blais of Les Mechins was killed by a roadside bomb blast last April.
The tragic news brings the death count of Canadians in Afghanistan to 150 soldiers and four civilians.
This comes less than a week after Sgt. James MacNeil of Glace Bay, N.S., was killed on June 21.
A repatriation ceremony for Master Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht, 34, and Pte. Andrew Miller, 21, will held at CFB Trenton's 8 Wing at 2 p.m. Tuesday June 29th. Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the Chief of the Defence Staff will be on hand to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers.
As expected, many Canadians will be lining the Highway of Heroes to pay their final respects to Master Cpl. Giesebrecht and Pte. Miller as they are taken by motorcade from CFB Trenton to Toronto
-- Edited by 73SC on Monday 28th of June 2010 11:38:59 PM
My buddy Matt, ( who runs the section that I work in ) told me this morning that he's known MCpl Giesbrecht for years. He showed me the e-mail he had gotten from her only 2 weeks ago...
What ashame, by all accounts she was a wonderful person. Tomorrow is my daughter's graduation at 5:30 pm but I am going to do everything humanly possible to be on a bridge to pay "our" respects. I hope time is on my side tomorrow.
It was 30 minutes off the usual time today, takes a bit longer when more than one fallen returns home.
I noticed today that the highway only drew quiet for about 45 seconds before the cortege appeared, same deal on Saturday. This is a new strategy and must be prompted by the crazy summer traffic here in Toronto.
While seeing that one photo with 4 motormen abreast is impressive it is not a sight I want to see any time soon, we've had too many this week.
I am proud to attend and take these photos to share with you so to Kim and others you are welcome. I try to give you a perspective of what it like even though the photos look similar each time.
The thing that photos can not capture is sound.
Before the cortege appears and traffic is flowing the atmosphere is very upbeat on the bridge, people talking and making acquaintances, many have made new friends this way.
While we wait motorists honk and wave as they pass saluting us on the bridge, almost jovial like.
Then almost simulataneously the northbound lanes stop and draw quiet, the southbound traffic disappears.
On this bridge a Royal Canadian Legion Sergeant at Arms calls out "Eyes Front" and snaps a salute as do all other people in uniform on the bridge. It is errily quiet in this largest city in the country on this normally busy bridge. A fleeting moment and the cortege has passed, we all pause for a moment before leaving. Inevitably many are wipping tears from there eyes shamlessly and providng support to one another.
The hustle and bustle of the city resumes.
-- Edited by 73SC on Tuesday 29th of June 2010 09:54:02 PM
Sadly yet Proudly Canadians stand alongside the Fence, the Highway on the bridges and overpasses to pay a proud salute to Sgt MacNeil and his family. They gathered for hours in the humid Ontario sun. To pay their respects for one fleeting moment as the Flag Draped Casket passed by in the hearse. It indeed makes one proud to be Canadian when you see the strength in numbers of people lining the 100 miles or so of "The Highway of Heroes"
Robby McRobb writes for The Guardian, PEI's main newspaper.
There is a huge Military following here on the Island ... it is the home of Veterans Affairs Headquarters, of which I'm a employee. We have HUGE "Red Fridays" here!
-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Wednesday 30th of June 2010 11:20:56 AM
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Haven't had to post here for awhile. Unfortunately my new job doesn't allow me to get to a bridge but I just noted the time at 3:32 pm and my thoughts turned to Cpl. Scherrer as he is coming home today. God Bless.
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan For the first time in 2011, a Canadian soldier has died in Afghanistan.
Cpl. Yannick Scherrer, from Montreal, was killed around noon Sunday by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol in the Panjwaii district southwest of Kandahar City.
The 24-year-old is the first Canadian to die in the Afghanistan campaign in more than three months and just the second since August 2010.
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Cpl. Scherrers family and to the soldiers and friends who served alongside him," Canadas top soldier in Kandahar, Brig.-Dean Milner, said in a statement read beside the Canadian memorial at Kandahar Airfield.
Scherrers death brings the total number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 155. One diplomat and one journalist have also been slain.
Scherrer was a member of the 1st battalion, Royal 22nd regiment, also known as the Van Doos.
Milner said Scherrer was hit by an improvised explosive device while conducting a partnered foot patrol with Afghan forces in the Nakhonay area, in eastern Panjwaii. The area, where at least seven Canadians have died since 2009, has been a hub of Taliban activity in recent years.
Prior to Scherrer, the last Canadian slain in Afghanistan was Cpl. Steve Martin on Dec. 18.
"Canadians can be proud of the progress our soldiers have accomplished for the people of Kandahar," Milner said. "More work remains to be done. We will honour Yannicks sacrifice by maintaining our resolve and continuing the fight to make Afghanistan a safer and self-sustaining country."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed his sadness at the death in a statement issued Sunday, saying the entire country is deeply saddened by your loss.
We will forever be grateful for the sacrifice made by Cpl. Scherrer.
Campaigning in Toronto, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said we owe a deep debt of gratitude to Canadian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan.
Dedicated soldiers like Cpl. Scherrer have brought security and development to a troubled land, and freed it from a repressive regime. We are incredibly proud of their service.
NDP leader Jack Layton extended his deepest condolences to Scherrers family and friends in a statement released Sunday night.
The sad news serves to remind us all of the danger that so many Canadians representing our country abroad face each and every day, he said in a statement from the campaign trail. It is with courage and honour that they put their lives on the line to serve our country. For their service and sacrifice we are deeply grateful.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston also released a statement saying that Canadians are united in sadness to hear of the death.
Cpl. Scherrer answered the call to service and dedicated himself to the cause of peace, security and the rule of law in Afghanistan.
