Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Highway of Heroes
Laura and I were out in Oshawa two weekends ago checking out wedding places and were heading back to Toronto around dusk. As we were pulling onto the highway, we noticed dozens of cars parked near and along the overpass we were using, but didn't pay much attention to it. Weird.
The next overpass we went under, again had upwards of 100 people standing on it, some waving Canadian flags, and a handful of firemen standing on top of their firetruck.
Then it clicked. We were driving on "The Highway of Heroes" - 3 Canadian soldiers had died in Afghanistan that week. In a sad tradition, the soldiers are flown to Trenton, then the families accompany the soldiers bodies to Toronto for post-mortems at the coroners office at Bay & College. Inevitably, the procession makes its way along the 401 from Trenton to Toronto.
The folks on the bridges were waiting, waiting patiently in order to be there for the 10 seconds when the procession would zip by below, offering what sympathy and thanks they could to the families of the soldiers. This was truly one of the most touching and patriotic yet incredibly sad things I've seen.
Every single overpass (20+ I'd guess) from Oshawa, to Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Scarborough and finally right up to the DVP was filled, Canadian flags waving or draped over the side. The shoulders of the 401 before and after the overpasses were lined with cars that had pulled over, 4 ways on, waiting. Most bridges had a police car, ambulance or fire truck, lights on, with folks standing on top, their silhouettes against the darkening sky. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me cry.
I can only imagine the pain when a loved one dies overseas, in a war that's been dragging on without seeming to accomplish much - especially when these 3 soldiers were all just 2-3 weeks away from coming home. There's not much I wouldn't think that could help lessen that pain - but this simple, silent gesture from the thousands of folks just waiting to wave in support is certainly something people won't forget.
"Paying respect on the Highway of Heroes"
The next overpass we went under, again had upwards of 100 people standing on it, some waving Canadian flags, and a handful of firemen standing on top of their firetruck.
Then it clicked. We were driving on "The Highway of Heroes" - 3 Canadian soldiers had died in Afghanistan that week. In a sad tradition, the soldiers are flown to Trenton, then the families accompany the soldiers bodies to Toronto for post-mortems at the coroners office at Bay & College. Inevitably, the procession makes its way along the 401 from Trenton to Toronto.
The folks on the bridges were waiting, waiting patiently in order to be there for the 10 seconds when the procession would zip by below, offering what sympathy and thanks they could to the families of the soldiers. This was truly one of the most touching and patriotic yet incredibly sad things I've seen.
Every single overpass (20+ I'd guess) from Oshawa, to Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Scarborough and finally right up to the DVP was filled, Canadian flags waving or draped over the side. The shoulders of the 401 before and after the overpasses were lined with cars that had pulled over, 4 ways on, waiting. Most bridges had a police car, ambulance or fire truck, lights on, with folks standing on top, their silhouettes against the darkening sky. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me cry.
I can only imagine the pain when a loved one dies overseas, in a war that's been dragging on without seeming to accomplish much - especially when these 3 soldiers were all just 2-3 weeks away from coming home. There's not much I wouldn't think that could help lessen that pain - but this simple, silent gesture from the thousands of folks just waiting to wave in support is certainly something people won't forget.
"Paying respect on the Highway of Heroes"
Labels: Highway of Heroes
# posted by Greg @ 4:46 AM 
