Highway of Heroes

In Poppy by Jay Black there is a wrenching telling of the repatriation home of Poppy’s son, David, who was killed by IED while serving in Afghanistan in the Canadian Army.

As was the case in real life Poppy is flown to Ontario to be present at the return of his son. Any parent will feel their heart clench at the thought of a child killed and now coming home. He joins three other families who have lost a family member.

Canada had soldiers participating in the war in Afghanistan for several years. They fought as part of the coalition battling the Taliban. Inevitably there were casualties. 158 men and women soldiers were killed and over 1,800 wounded.

My son, Michael, attended law school with one of those veterans. The war affected his classmate years later.

The transport planes carrying the deceased arrive at the air force base in Trenton. On arrival:

A lone piper’s lament cut through the howling wind as eight members of

the Army honour guard split from the formation to serve as pallbearers …. David’s casket, last of the four, left the pallbearers’ white-gloved hands to enter the final hearse. An Army Sergeant led the eight in a short march away from the vehicle as Lieutenant Rich drew Poppy’s attention with a gentle hand against his upper arm. She took a step toward the hearse but waited for him to join her as he held his place with the mourners.

After he lays a rose upon this son’s casket the hearse is closed and the families begin a special Canadian journey.

The hearses travel in a convoy down Highway 401, the busiest highway in Canada, from the base to Toronto. From Toronto the deceased are taken to their homes in Canada.

The 401 is a divided highway with overpasses spanning the highway.

Starting in 2002 a tradition developed. Residents in the communities knowing when the convoys are coming started lining the overpasses.

It is a powerful experience for Poppy:

He lowered his head to look up through the glass as they neared the first

of what would be dozens of overpasses hung with Canadian flags, big and

small. Uniformed members of the Ontario Provincial Police saluted as the

motorcade approached. Poppy’s chest swelled with pride at their

honouring of David’s sacrifice, and that of those who died with him.

For the almost 200 km there are Canadians on every overpass.

In a country where patriotism can be muted it was a powerful public expression of pride in our military.

I have read no other nation has such a public journey for its fallen.

The photo at the top of the post is dominated by a group of firefighters from Port Hope. The second photo shows another overpass filled with Canadians.

Here is a link to videos on the motorcades of deceased soldiers traveling down the Highway of Heroes, the new name of the 401 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3IutxvltBM and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCzBx5Ope5w