Members pay their respects to Pte. Patrick Lormand
Sep 16, 2009 - 05:11 PM
By Crystal Crimi
OSHAWA -- To the call "Salute!", a row of 38 navy personnel raised their hands in the gesture of respect Wednesday to the latest Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
The crew of black suited, white capped naval members made a special visit to the Highway of Heroes in Oshawa to participate in a bridge-top repatriation ceremony for Private Patrick Lormand.
The 21-year-old private was killed Sept. 13 in a roadside explosion in the Panjwai district southwest of Kandahar City. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment based in Valcartier, Quebec.
"I've seen it on the news, I've never seen it in person though," said Steve Vaillancourt, an able seaman, of the ceremony.
Mr. Vaillancourt, along with the other navy personnel in attendance, were in Oshawa this week as part of a six-week tour aboard the HMCS Ville De Quebec. The ship's visit is intended to raise awareness about the navy and its opportunities.
"I was the one that pointed out hey guys, we're right beside the Highway of Heroes," said Mr. Vaillancourt, as the sound of cars and trucks sped by underneath the Simcoe Street bridge.
The 21-year-old from Montreal found out from a cabbie that the ceremony was coming through the region.
"We wanted to come pay our respects," Mr. Vaillancourt said.
Being up there with everyone else, waiting for the hearse and soldier's family to pass by was an experience of sadness and pride for him.
"There's a lot of emotion that floods through you," he said.
Army Corporal Kristine Brassard shared similar feelings as she stood on the bridge for the first time, waiting for the soldier's hearse to pass.
"It's an honour to be here, but it's sad," said the Quebec native, who's serving onboard the ship.
At 25 years old, she has been in the army for four years. Her husband is a leading seaman and her parents are both ex-military.
"I've never lost anybody in my family due to that, but it hits home when you have someone other than yourself, that you realize it could be in my family," she said.
Since 2002, 130 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.
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