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Highway(s) of Heroes - Merged Thread

3rd Herd

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The Usual Disclaimer:

Let's officially designate 'Highway of Heroes'

By Pete Fisher
Local News - Thursday, July 19, 2007 @ 09:00

What began quietly, spontaneously in Northumberland County has now extended along the 172 kilometres, or 107 miles, of Highway 401 travelled by repatriated Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. People standing on bridges has become a powerful expression of support by fellow Canadians for the troops and their families.

We all pray there will be no need to come together again on a bridge to honour our fallen but, with the war in Afghanistan continuing, it's naive to think there won't be more casualties.

Starting from the first procession for Sgt. Marc D. Leger, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, Pte. Richard Green, and Pte. Nathan Smith, who were killed in April, 2002, people have stood on bridges in Northumberland County.

I remember in 2002 there were approximately 30 people, including two police officers, saluting on the Cranberry Road overpass in Port Hope as four hearses passed underneath. People had been watching the live coverage of the repatriation service at CFB Trenton on television and saw the hearses leave the base. Wanting to show their support, they spontaneously went to the bridge to await the procession.

Once a funeral procession leaves CFB Trenton, it heads west along Highway 401 to Toronto, then goes south on the Don Valley Parkway, ending at the Centre for Forensic Sciences on Grenville Street.

To date, 66 fallen heroes have made the journey.

Since then, on various bridges along the Highway 401 route, there have been people on bridges, sometimes less and, of late, more - many more.

Every person who stands on a bridge will tell you it's a feeling like no other. As you wait, you talk with people who have been there before, who you've come to know. People smile, share feelings, talk about how many times they've stood on various bridges. It's a mix of pride and sadness.

When the convoy of vehicles is seen approaching, murmurs in the crowd can be heard: "Here they come." There's silence as people get ready. Then, there's a sudden sea of arms waving Canadian flags, wanting to let family members in the procession know we are there for them, that we share their pain and are proud to be Canadian.

It's not unusual to see a soldier's hand waving a beret from a hearse, or a family member waving from a limousine, to acknowledge the people on the bridge. Those waves are simple gestures, but more than enough for everyone on a bridge to know in that split second that everyone has made a connection to the people in those vehicles. Five years after the first procession went through Northumberland County, hundreds of people - farmers, business people, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, Legion members,kids - pay tribute to the husbands, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who have given their lives for their country.

People have lined bridges on cold winter evenings, rainy nights and evenings when the sun is setting. People have stood for hours waiting on the bridges with their flags, with their homemade signs, some with red Support The Troops shirts. Everyone by now knows someone, or someone with a relation, who has been or is in Afghanistan.

Canadians are not trying to conquer a country. They are trying to help the people of Afghanistan. Talking to soldiers, they say we are there for the right reasons. Soldiers give first-hand accounts of the good Canada is doing.

And, out of tragic times come good things.

In the June 25, 2007 Toronto Sun, columnist Joe Warmington described people standing on Highway 401 bridges from Trenton to Toronto as a "Highway of Heroes" phenomena. Since then, the title has taken on a life of its own.

On July 10, I received an e-mail from Cramahe Township firefighter Ken Awender. Like so many, he said how beautiful it is that scores of people come out to pay tribute. Then he said something that was so simple, I wondered why it hadn't been thought of before.

He suggested a petition should be started to rename the stretch of Highway 401 from Trenton to Toronto as "The Highway of Heroes."

He's right.

The section of highway is 172 kilometres/107 miles long. Already unofficially known as the Highway of Heroes, it's time we find a way to make it official.

It would be a fitting tribute to all the people who stand on the bridges, for all the families who have lost loved ones.

Most of all, it will honour our soldiers who die so others can live a better life.

fighter Ken Awender. He said, like so many, how beautiful it is that scores of people come out to pay tribute. Then he said something that was so simple, I wondered why it hadn't been thought of before. He suggested a petition should be started to rename the stretch of Highway 401 from Trenton to Toronto as "The Highway of Heroes."

He's right.

The section of highway is 172 kilometres/107 miles long. Already unofficially known as the Highway of Heroes, it's time we find a way to make it official.

It would be a fitting tribute to all the people who stand on the bridges, for all the families who have lost loved ones.

Most of all, it will honour our soldiers who die so others can live a better life.

http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=618551&catname=Local%20News&classif=




 
100% supported. This really makes Canada a great place to live!!! God I love this country.

TOW TRIPOD
 
I personally like this idea.  It's unfortunate that we have to have people killed on operations, and it's even more unfortunate that those killed when in Yugoslavia were virtually ignored by the press. 

I say "Go for it".  Naturally, it's up to Ontario to designate it as such, so, will Mr McGuinty do it? 
 
Is someone going to actually make a petition or am I just going to have to post "+1"?
 
CF Enthusiast said:
Is someone going to actually make a petition or am I just going to have to post "+1"?

Heres where to start. There is a contact number at the end of the article, dialing fingers Go!

Lest We Forget - Memory of Local War Heroes Preserved
Highway 62 Dedicated

BELLEVILLE, ON, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - On Remembrance Day, as Canada honours those who have served our country past and present, today the Ontario government is honouring a proud local regiment by dedicating a portion of Highway 62 as Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Commemorative Highway.     "As time goes on, it's increasingly important for younger generations to know about veterans contributions and sacrifices," said Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield. "Men and women of this regiment have demonstrated extraordinary courage by dedicating their lives to preserve our free and peaceful country. On the eve of Remembrance Day, we remember their brave service by dedicating a portion of Highway 62 in their honour."

Highway 62 from Bancroft south to Bloomfield - approximately 130 kilometres - will be known as Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
Commemorative Highway..................http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2006/11/10/c2844.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html

For further information: Media Contacts: Neal Kelly, Minister's Office,
(416) 327-9134; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158; Public
Inquiries: (416) 235-4686 (GTA), 1-800-268-4686 toll free, 1-866-471-8929 TTY





 
Captain Sensible said:
I personally like this idea.  It's unfortunate that we have to have people killed on operations, and it's even more unfortunate that those killed when in Yugoslavia were virtually ignored by the press. 


Sad ain't it? Look at what 9/11 did to us. Media folks.... shame.
 
Captain Sensible said:
I say "Go for it".  Naturally, it's up to Ontario to designate it as such, so, will Mr McGuinty do it? 

I sure hope so. On the political side, there doesn't seem to be any muck the oppostion could raise on this issue without making themselves look like total buffoons in the eyes of the public. I know Airport Rd. in London was recently renamed Veterans Memorial Parkway, so why not do the same with the 401?
 
FifthHorse said:
On the political side, there doesn't seem to be any muck the oppostion could raise on this issue without making themselves look like total buffoons in the eyes of the public.

Great idea overall, but I wish I was as optimistic as you about this bit, though.  Look at the ribbon stink among different politicians at different levels.

 
From Sydney to Canberra, the National Hwy is named Remberance Way. A road which lists each VC Winner by name and rank. Small information plaques are also in rest areas along the way.

A nice tribute.

In my hometown of Saskatoon at the major city cemetery, each tree along all roadways within the boundry has a plaque beneath it, from all local lads KIA in WW1, and the same was repeated for WW2 KIAs also.

Again a nice tribute.

Regards,

Wes
 
Here is a nice road tribute in Ontario.
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/57703.0.html
 
Wesley  Down Under said:
From Sydney to Canberra, the National Hwy is named Remberance Way. A road which lists each VC Winner by name and rank. Small information plaques are also in rest areas along the way.

A nice tribute.

In my hometown of Saskatoon at the major city cemetery, each tree along all roadways within the boundry has a plaque beneath it, from all local lads KIA in WW1, and the same was repeated for WW2 KIAs also.

Again a nice tribute.

Regards,

Wes

Highly commendable.  :salute:
 
3rd Herd,

That article was a very nice read. Also, Bruce I enjoyed the Mallorytown photo's on the other thread you had shared the link for, thank you.

~Rebecca
 
I wrote this editorial for the newspaper that I work for in Cobourg.
A relative of one of the fallen soldiers killed on July 4, 2007 wrote me and gave me a link to this website and asked if I would share a few words.
All I can say is, I hope this happens.  I'm not sure how to get the ball rolling, but it something that I believe has to happen.  As my article stated, not only for the soldiers, but their families.  It needs to be done, it should be done, and I hope the politicians put their differences aside and do it.
Covering repatriations many times, I can tell everyone, that it's something that stays with you.  You never forget, it changes you.  You see not only the ceremony to honour the soldiers that have given their lives for their Country, but you see the families and feel the sadness.  Nothing comparing to what they feel, but it hits you.  When you're on the bridge, you also feel sadness why you're there.  But there is a sense of pride of everyone coming out to fill the bridge to say thank you to the family.  It is also a feeling like no other.  And I hope never to have that feeling again, because I hope there will be no others killed.

 
Newshound911,
Welcome to the site and thank you for a very well written article/editorial. :salute:
 
FifthHorse said:
I sure hope so. On the political side, there doesn't seem to be any muck the oppostion could raise on this issue without making themselves look like total buffoons in the eyes of the public. I know Airport Rd. in London was recently renamed Veterans Memorial Parkway, so why not do the same with the 401?

Well the 401 already has a name, it's the McDonald-Cartier freeway named after two of the fathers of confederation.  Plus the 416 going to Ottawa is the Vetrans Memorial Highway. 
That being said I like the idea of a tribute, i'm just not sure if this is the best one. 
Plus I'm fairly certain that the federal government would probably try to secretly nix the idea, as the tribute by it's very nature will remind people of the increasing death toll in Afghanistan.   

That being said it would be nice to see some form of tribute along the 401, perhaps something as simple as flags every 20 or so km. 
 
Possibly the Legion could spearhead a move to plant trees & dedicate plaques to our fallen, between Trenton & Toronto.  It is not necessary to restrict ourselves to the Afghanistan mission's fallen comrades.  Start with Korea and work your way forward thru the various peacekeeping AND peacemaking missions.
 
CF Enthusiast said:
Is someone going to actually make a petition or am I just going to have to post "+1"?

I had time and i fully support the idea, so I made a petition. feel free to sign it and I've contacted the Ontario Ministry of Transportation
http://www.petitiononline.com/401Hero/petition.html
 
I think the idea is very commendable. When I went to Edmonton to do my Assisting Officer course, we were lucky to listen to stories from AOs who performed their duty for some of the recent casualties. We heard about the well-wishers who stood on the roadside on the highway to Toronto. One of the AOs told us that when the hearse procession was entering Toronto, they noticed a police officer who was in the middle of collaring a resisting suspect. When the officer noticed the escort and hearse driving towards him, he stopped what he was doing, mid-collar, and stood to attention with one foot on the suspect's back to keep him pinned while the officer snapped off a salute. Once the hearse passed, he went right back to cuffing the guy.
I thought that spoke volumes about the respect people have for our fallen soldiers and I was very moved to hear that story.
 
(did you friend say if the detainee cooperated and stopped resisting while the hearse passed?)
 
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