Travelling the "Highway of Heroes" 10 times a week (sometimes more) is just my way of getting from point A to point B. It hasn't been until recently that I became so aware of the Highway and it's true significance. The Highway of Heroes (aka 401) is the road that is taken from CFB Trenton into Toronto when a Canadian soldier dies in the line of duty. Many afternoons on my way to work I see people standing on the bridges over the 401 (all the way from Trenton right to Toronto) with their Canada Flags flying, their hands waving. I have waved many times and honked my horn on numerous occasions.A few weeks ago we saw the flags and the crowds and I really wanted to be a part of it. Unfortunately we were too late and the procession passed just as we were getting out of the van.
Another soldier died this week and today we honored him. We stood on the bridge with 100 other people with our flags, our peace signs and our waves. It was amazing. I know it may sound corny but it was just amazing, and heart-wrenching and sad. We stood next to a woman whose son is in the Navy (for which she is eternally grateful). She told us that this soldier was the 125th to die in this no-win, never ending war. She also told us this was the 95th time she had stood on that bridge with her flag waving, paying her respect to the dead soldier and his/her family.
She explained to us that when a soldier dies, they are flown to CFB Trenton where the Governor General, family and friends meet the aircraft and have a ceremony. A motorcade then leaves CFB Trenton and drives to Toronto where an autopsy is performed and then the bodies are sent home for a proper funeral. She told us that in Cobourg the police actually shut down the bridge as a soldier from Cobourg was one who had died and there are so many people that go to see the procession and pay their respects that they have no choice but to do so.
We stood on the Thickson Road Overpass along with other men, women and children, EMS workers and firemen all with their vehicle lights blinking and flags waving. This is something I will not forget. I realized after the fact that Craig was as moved as I was. I knew it when he said, "maybe we should put our flag in the van".
2 comments:
shannon, thank you so much for the email.
what a beautiful, special tribute. thanks so much for sharing this. xo
What a wonderful opportunity to show our children what freedom is all about. I think that the bridge "ceremonies" are so awesome and hopefully it lets the families of the deceased know that we Canadians really admire and thank them for their courage and to let them know how deeply saddened we are by their loss. We can't imagine how terrible the loss is for these families. We are so lucky to live in this great land but we must never forget why and who has given us the opportunity to live as we do.
Love to all
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