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The Highway of Heroes

The Highway of Heroes

The sun was shining, the sky bright blue, but the 401 west of Trenton was damp yesterday, dampened by the tears of fellow Canadians who stopped to pay tribute to 2 of Canada’s fallen soldiers.

Along the 401, soon to be renamed The Highway of Heroes, every overpass was draped with Canadian Flags, flanked by fire trucks, Firemen, Police and hundreds of people waiting to give a final salute to these fallen heroes.

The Overpasses were lined with fire trucks, police cars, and hundreds of people

As we drove along the highway, we saw farmers on their tractors parked by the highway, flying flags.

It only took a look at each other to decided we too should pay our respects.

Just East of Bowmanville, we pulled through the service centre and parked on the exit ramp. The car behind us did the same, they had a folded Canadian Flag…I remembered we had a kids fishing pole in the back, it fit the flag perfectly….now there was something to hold as we waved. I grabbed my Tim Horton’s cup to wave, I know many Canadians have sent money to give our troops a taste of home, "coffee".

Soon others joined our little group…so many drivers, going both ways, waved, some honked, truckers blasted their horns, several OPP cars waved and honked as they went by, many gave us a thumbs up, one bus driver waved a tiny Canadian Flag, some put on their flashers….Canadian drivers got involved!

Many cars exiting the service centre stopped, unaware, to ask us what was going on…we received many comments such as thanks, good job, way to go, well done….all those comments we pass on to the families of the fallen heroes.

The motorcade bearing our fallen heroes passes by

Tears were flowing as the escorting police, sirens wailing, passed by followed by car after car of military limos and hearses, the occupants of each car acknowledging our presence with waves. What a moving experience, and a privilege to be able to pay tribute to our fallen heroes.

Uxbridge Paid Tribute to our troops with a Sea of Red
On Saturday April 21, 2007 the Town of Uxbridge Ontario, held a mass rally in support of our troops.

If you are registered Face Book user you can click here to go to Tim Horton's For Our Troops

While it may not be needed anymore you can still sign the petition
to rename a section of the 401as a show of support.

The Ontario "Highway of Heroes" Petition to Ontario Ministry of Transportation was created by members of Milnet.ca
and written by James Forbes. This petition is hosted at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/petition.html as a public service.

Posted by Kathy Clulow ASP® SRES® on 08/27/2007 09:43 PM

Comments (13)

highway of heroes, sea of red, ontario, uxbridge

Originally posted at: Uxbridge Information & Events: The Highway of Heroes

This post has been included in Ontario Information Durham Municipality, ON Information

13 Comments on The Highway of Heroes

AUG

2007

Great post it is sure nice to see Canadian support the troops. As a ex Canadian soldier this sure makes me proud of the battle group in Afghanistan.

Cheers
Scott

SEP

2007

Scott -Not everyone supports what is going on in Afghanistan but I have talked with refugees from there who are very thankful that our troops are their doing what they can to bring peace to a troubled land.

SEP

2007

That is right Kathy not everyone supports the troops that is what democracy is all about the freedom of choice.

SEP

2007

Kathy, thank you for writing this very moving and beautiful tribute to our fallen heroes.

I live just 12 minutes east of the military base where these young men are brought back to their families and the crowds that gather along the stretch of the highway to watch the arrival of the fallen heroes, is testament to the support and love that is felt for each of these young heroes.

I can't drive by there anymore without a tear reaching my eye and a painful tug at my heart.... they're all so young and having 3 sons myself in the same age ranges as many of these young men and women, it strikes me even moreso....I can't even imagine the pain these families must be experiencing.

So many times lately I think of John Lennon's words 'you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.....'

Jo-Anne -I don't know if it is age or an increased sensitivity but the tears come to the eye more frequently these days.

What a great idea to post this experience. It is great for all to see the support our troops receive.

There was a letter in the local Clarington paper saying these fallen soldiers are not 'heroes', simply men doing their job. He said to rename the highway was an insult to true heroes.

A hero is someone who puts their own life at risk for others. That is exactly what a fallen soldier does. Just like a Police Officer, Firefighter, Nurses during SARS...just because they were 'working' makes them no less heroes. In fact, to me it makes them more so because they've made a conscious decision.

To the man who wrote the letter to the editor...a hero comes through many situations not just through unexpected situations. Heroes were lost in 911 when average men and women helped others in the buildings to get out, but heroes were also lost when the firefighters and police officers were lost while 'doing their job'.

To all our troops, firefighters, police officers, ems, emerg doctors/nurses...your work is what sets you apart and each of you deserve a big thank you...at the very least!

Kathy-Glad that you reminded everyone that the USA is not the only country fighting for freedom. I have had the pleasure to serve alongside the Canadian Army on several occassions and was always impressed at their professionalism and ability. I had a Soldier named Scott Little who was from Canada. He was a true stud and earned a Bronze Star Medal while we were in Iraq from January 2004-February 2005. He was so good that the Division Commander of the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii granted him a "Green to Gold" scholarship and he is now a Second Lieutenant in the Army. Hats off to the Canadians!

Aloha,

David Kucic RA, GRI, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO
First Sergeant, USA (Retired)
Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii

SEP

2007

Dane -We had a columnist take a similar viewpoint here in Uxbridge And yes they may have simply been doing their job but we certainly need to recognize that the freedoms we enjoy today are the result of men and women who were "simply doing their Job" In our books they are all Heroes. If nothing else good came out of 911 we certainly gained a new respect for all who respond. They respond when and where the need arises disregarding their own personal safety to go to the aid of others, be it in a foreign land or on home soil our troops our firefighters, police officers, ems, emerg doctors/nurses all step up to the plate when called. The least we can do is give them, and the families they leave behind, our respect and our thanks.

David -Thanks for the feedback. Its always nice to hear that someone recognizes that Canadians are capable of of being professionals and do contribute.

SEP

2007

Howdy Kathy

My hat is off to you all for recognize and showing support for your troops.

I am a US Military Veteran.

Have a good one

Dale - 9/11 should have taught us that we are all vulnerable and that we all rely on others to respond in times of trauma, not just the military but all our emergency responders whether it be part of their job or just someone who happens to be in the right place at the right time who does the right thing.

SEP

2007

Kathy, thanks for writing this great post. We should all take the time to remember what our men and women are doing for us overseas. It's nice to see our American AR cousins responding to your post as well.

Charlene - Your Welcome- We all need to remember and support not just our troops but any one who responds in time of need and puts their life on hold or at risk for their fellow man.

You're so right Kathy!

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