Canada Day

Well, here it is, Canada Day! The day that we celebrate the birth of our great country. A country that has never lost a war that it was in, never had a bloody civil war. A country that honours the rights, believes, and freedoms of it’s people.

Unfortunately, it is with a heavy heart that today’s post is an update on the latest Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

On June 8, 2009, Private Alexandre Péloquin was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in the Panjwaii district of Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province. In a twist worthy of only the best Hollywood writers, Pte. Péloquin was involved in a mission to find and neutralize IEDs. The group had recovered material for over one hundred IEDs, and 15 other weapons of terror. In giving his life for his country, Pte. Péloquin saved the lives of many more soldiers and civilians. Please take a moment and pay honour to Private Alexandre Péloquin, and all of the others who have fallen before him.

Corporal Martin Dubé was attempting to defuse two IEDs when one went off, killing him. Cpl. Dubé, and the other 119 soldiers, died protecting the rights of the Afghan people that many of us take for granted. This brings the total of Canadian Soldiers killed while serving in Afghanistan to 120.

As you read through the updates to my post, please take a moment and think what these men and women gave up to serve in our name, and for the honour of being Canadian. These men and women truly are the embodiment of what it means to be Canadian. And this week, when you are celebrating the birthday of our fine country, remember what it means to be Canadian.

120. June 14, 2009: Corporal Martin Dubé – age 35, single, no children, 5 Combat Engineer Regiment was killed while he was trying to defuse a roadside bomb.

119. June 8, 2009: Pte Alexandre Péloquin - age 20, single, no children, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment (Dragoons) was killed while on patrol by a roadside bomb.

Also killed while in the line of duty since my last post are;

117. April 13, 2009: Trooper Karine Blais – age 21, single, no children, 12th Armoured Regiment of Canada, was killed by a roadside bomb.

118. April 24, 2009: Major Michelle Mendes – age 30, married, no children, Defense Intelligence Officer was killed possible self-inflicted gunshot wound.

My apologies for not posting these in a timely manner.

Click here to see a map showing the home towns of our brave soldiers who died while serving their country (map courtesy of TheStar.com).