Remember our Canadian Relatives:

[old rowley]

Thank you Kathleen for putting up the link to The Highway of Heroes very moving indeed. Unfortunately, here in England, nothing like that happens except in some area's that are near either the forces bases or the air base that the lads (and women) return home too.

We recently had a program on  national televison (Saturday 15th November ) entitled "The Fallen" which told the story of the 300 (now 302 since the program was made) British service personnel who had been killed whilst on active service in Afghanistan and Iraq. Was this program shown at peak viewing times? the answer to this was no. It was shown after 9pm on a Saturday night. Was the program shown to a nationwide audiance? No, not really as it was "tucked" away on BBC2 instead of being shown on BBC1 where audiance figures are higher. Was the program worth showing? A resounding yes as it was not only well made but it was one that not only made you think about the tragic waste of life of these service personnel but also the cost to the families and loved ones that are left behind. 

It is true that for many in this country they only hear of the death's of British service men and women or of the loss of American troops through the national media and not many know that 18 other countries have lost personnel in these two conflicts. How many I wonder know that Latvia, Estonia and South Korea have suffered loses as well as Finland, Norway and Denmark? But some of us are always mindful (and grateful) of what these countries, as well as Canada and Australia, have contributed.

OR

[adee7]

There has been considerable coverage, especially on CBC about the Highway of Heroes.  What I found especially surprising about the NBC coverage what that it was done, simply because in the U.S. as you probably know, there is little or no public word of the returning injured or dead from those conflicts.

Kathleen

[AnneMc]

While in Ontario visiting family in October we drove along the highway of Heroes.  I must say it was very moving realizing that this was the last highway trip for our brave men and women.

Anne

[Shanty]

Thank you Kathleen for the link to the video.  It is nice to see our Americans to the south have recognized something of how we show our respect.   The article posted here is a very moving one and I have a similar article I received about 5 years ago also written by a British journalist which was passed my way at work.  I work with the Canadian military and have been unfortunate to know some of the fallen.  Moreover, I know those whose lives are forever changed for having been party to the battles of old and new.  These men and women whether visible to strangers or not, are very different people and not always for the better, after returning from places like Iraq. 

As for the quiet Canadians, 'yes' we tend to be a modest people who do not take for granted  what we have in Canada.  It reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" (except for the last line).

-Shanty