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| Great White North | |
| Thousands expected to line Highway of Heroes | |
| 2010-01-02 | |
Thousands are expected to line bridges along the Highway of Heroes Sunday for the repatriation of Canada's most recent four fallen soldiers and the Calgary reporter who died alongside them in Afghanistan.
The plane bearing the bodies of the five will land at CFB Trenton around 2 p.m. Sunday. Repatriation Officer Captain Wayne Johnston said all of the fallen will be treated the same as they make their final journey home. "She was in Afghanistan obviously doing the job she loved," Johnston said, speaking of the award-winning journalist who became the first Canadian member of the media to be killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. "She died with soldiers telling the story about soldiers and the good work they are doing in Afghanistan." Johnston credits a whole team of military, police and civilians in helping pay the proper respect to Canada's fallen, including those who will stand silently on the bridges along Hwy. 401 Sunday as the procession passes. "The solace I'm sure that brings those families," Johnston said. "(Sunday) is going to be a very, very cold day, don't think those moms and dads and brothers and sisters don't think, 'My God, those folks came out to bring our boy home.' "I include all those folks as part of the team." Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk are expected to be on the tarmac to pay their respects. After each flag-draped casket is carried off the plane and into a waiting hearse, the convoy will travel west along Hwy. 401 towards Toronto likely between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. The procession of five hearses followed by cars carrying the grieving families should come south down the Don Valley Parkway around 4:30 p.m. - depending on traffic and weather - before exiting onto Bloor St. and into the downtown. Toronto Police said the repatriation will move from Bloor St. across to Sherbourne St., go south to Wellesley St., west to Bay St. and then south to Grovesnor St. before turning into the coroner's office just before Yonge St. It's estimated the convoy will make the last turn, at the Corner of the Courageous, outside the coroner's office, at Yonge and Grenville Sts., around 5:15 p.m. Arrival times are approximate. Well-wishers who intend to pay their respects from bridges along Hwy. 401 are advised to dress accordingly in case of delays. Sunday: Cloudy. Periods of snow beginning in the morning. Amount 2 cm. Local blowing snow. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. High minus 9C. Wind chill minus 27C in the morning. | |
| Posted by:Skunky Glins**** |