Many have long questioned Canada’s decision to have troops stationed in Afghanistan, wondering if the Armed Forces should be there at all.
The Ministry of Transportation recently announced that members of the Armed Forces from British Columbia, who have been killed while serving, will be honoured.
A stretch of highway between the Canadian Armed Forces base in Trenton and Toronto, Ont. is referred to as the Highway of Heroes and now there is a stretch of the Trans-Canada in B.C. – between Surrey and Abbotsford – that has the same designation, a west coast Highway of Heroes as some have called it.
The idea was started by the 3rd Canadian Army Veterans Ubique Unit last year during a memorial motorcycle ride and the process was expedited thanks to Allan de Genova, the president of a charity that the unit chose as the beneficiary of this year’s ride.
Fittingly, the charity is Honour House Society, which provides accommodations for the families of service people when they are in the Vancouver area receiving care and treatment.
Also fitting was the unveiling of a 5.49-metre by 2.44-metre sign at each end of the west coast’s “Highway of Heroes” by the ministry at the same time as this year’s memorial ride, which took place this past Saturday.
I’m on the fence when it comes to the Armed Forces’ involvement abroad in places like Kandahar, but I think it’s a good idea to honour fallen soldiers.
Even if one is against the government’s decision to deploy troops and take military action in Southwest Asia, it’s unfair to hold it against the soldiers, who are only following orders.
Memorials are set up for soldiers who took part in the two world wars and while the circumstances behind the involvement in Afghanistan are different, I believe those soldiers need a memorial as well.
Barry Drews, vice-president of the 3rd Canadian Army Veterans Ubique Unit, said that there have been a number of soldiers from B.C. that have fallen and B.C.’s Highway of Heroes is a way to honour their memory and a way to show respect to the families of the soldiers.
I have to agree with that.
