Gord and the troops

[Auburn Annie]

From the Toronto Sun:

Farewell to 'another hero'
Police, Lightfoot honour fallen soldier

By JOE WARMINGTON

Last Updated: 4th February 2009, 2:39am

It is true that in a flag-draped casket Sean Greenfield came home alone.

But he was not alone.

No Canadian soldier killed in the line-of-duty in Afghanistan ever is.

Greenfield, 25, whose family lives near Petawawa, was death No. 108, which means 108 times people have stood on overpasses along a stretch of Hwy. 401 known as Highway of Heroes or along the Don Valley Pkwy. or along Grenville St. -- the end of the trip from battle to the Ontario coroner's office.

Every time is emotional. Yesterday was no different.

"Unforgettable," says Canadian entertainment icon Gordon Lightfoot. "It will never leave my mind."

As always, Toronto Police were on hand, Toronto EMS personnel, firefighters, parking enforcement officers, military, the mounted unit and members of the public.

"Police stand with our brothers and sisters in the military," explains Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, who has been to repatriations at CFB Trenton and here. "Canadians right across the Highway of Heroes and in the City of Toronto are here to honour another hero but it is sad to be here."

Lightfoot, the Canadian music legend who has been a staunch supporter of the troops and with Blair shared the stage of a rally at Dundas Square in 2006, says he is proud of the men and women who make the sacrifice that going to war asks.

Wearing a red toque and a yellow ribbon pin on his jacket, he describes them as "brave."

Armed forces Capt. Hal Buller agrees, adding the soldiers are also people who have "great Canadian values" which do not go unnoticed in Afghanistan. "We have ambassadors in many different countries and I believe every one of these soldiers are Canadian ambassadors."

Clearly this phenomenon of public support, which has been written about in the United States and Great Britain, is not waning.

Sun Media's Pete Fisher tells me out on the Highway of Heroes there were many bridges and overpasses packed with Canadians with flags and thank yous, which included the sombre but soothing bagpipes of Gordon Hunter from the Cobourg Legion. And in Toronto, the emotions led to lots of tears. Many choked up when the escort officer stepped out of the hearse and headed to the procession to thank all of those in uniform and from civilian ranks.

It was especially moving since Cpl. Gregory Hunter was in the same vehicle in which Greenfield died Jan. 31.

The first person he hugged was Angela Downey, whose son, Brendan, died July 4, 2008. He then hugged Brendan's dad, Neil.

"Our son was No. 86," says Neil. "We have come down here for every one since."

If there are more, the Downeys -- sister Joanna, and brother Andrew -- will be there. "They are such beautiful young boys," says Angela.

You could see tears in Hunter's eyes as he moved on. This brave soldier from Ottawa will be back with his 2 Combat Engineer Regiment out of Petawawa very soon.

As he and his fellow soldiers walked away, the crowd started to applaud.

The war continues. And we don't forget. Clearly these fine young people are in a dangerous situation and many times must feel alone.

They are not.

aw, so difficult to read yet so important to remember and honor these fallen soldiers. I cry when I read the #of casualties because any # is too many

[charlene]

http://www.torontosun.com/news/colum...55431-sun.html
video at link and comments to article.

[Auburn Annie]

Thanks, Char - I haven't been able to get the video to load for me but did read the comments.

[timetraveler]

I couldn't help but get teary eyed myself.

[BendRick]

I'm proud of Gordon, who has a long history of anti-war songs, that he still supports his nation's troops.There are still some causes worth fighting for.

[lighthead2toe]

A very sad occasion indeed as always when we lose a loved one.
The presence alone and of course the voice of Gordon Lightfoot reflecting his sentiment penetrates deep into the hearts and minds of many and in turn generates feelings of proudness in our brave women and men who lay their lives on the line daily in a most hostile region of the world in an attempt to make it a better place.
They must always be remembered. Ron J.

[Tim]

This thread struck a nerve with me on several levels.

First, I recently completed a 23 year career in the US Air Force which included a tour in Iraq. I took comfort in this forum, and communicated with several of you directly, and for that I thank you. It meant a great deal to me.

Secondly, during my Air Force retirement ceremony, I had the opportunity to say a few words. In addition to thanking my family for their sacrifices, I mentioned that those in the Armed Forces are very fortunate in these times to have fellow citizens who show support for the troops whether or not they agree with the policy that has them in various hostile corners of the globe. The men and women who serve today are very fortunate to have a public who can separate how they feel about a policy and how they can support the troops themselves. It wasn't always that way -- just ask an American Vietnam Vet.

Finally, with regard to Gord, he connected with me in a very seemingly small gesture. Back in November 1999, the first of Gordon's Massey Hall shows coincided with a local ceremony earlier in the day to commemorate the sacrifices of Canadian veterans. At the ceremony, special roses were passed out to those in attendance. Later that evening, Gordon came out on the Massey stage wearing the same type rose on the lapel of his shirt. That act spoke volumes to me on he feels about the vets.

[Tim]

This thread struck a nerve with me on several levels.

First, I recently completed a 23 year career in the US Air Force which included a tour in Iraq. During that time I occasionally had the opportunity to to get on a computer. During those times, I took comfort in this forum, and communicated with several of you directly, and for that I thank you. It meant a great deal to me.

Secondly, during my Air Force retirement ceremony, I had the opportunity to say a few words. In addition to thanking my family for their sacrifices, I mentioned that those in the Armed Forces are very fortunate in these times to have fellow citizens who show support for the troops whether or not they agree with the policy that had placed them in various hostile corners of the globe. The men and women who serve today are very fortunate to have a public who can separate how they feel about a policy and how they can support the troops themselves. It wasn't always that way -- just ask an American Vietnam Vet.

Finally, with regard to Gord, he connected with me in a very seemingly small gesture. Back in November 1999, the first of Gordon's Massey Hall shows coincided with the Canadian Veterans Day commemorance. Earlier in the day before the concert I saw several folks around Toronto wearing a rose on their lapel I learned that they were handed out at a ceremony honoring Canada's veterans. That night Gordon came out on the Massey stage wearing a veteran's rose on the lapel of his shirt. To see Gordon come out wearing the same rose on his lapel spoke volumes of how he feels.

[charlene]

Perhaps what you saw were red poppies..we have those for Remembrance Day-Nov.11 and are usually worn from the beginning of November until shortly after the 11th.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/s...r/remember/how