Today’s post was originally going to be about the improvement the Liberals under Michael Ignatieff are enjoying in the public opinion polls. I’m happy to see that change but another item caught my attention. Without those who are part of this item and those who went before them, we would not have the democracy we have. Our opinions as citizens wouldn’t really matter.

I live on a section of the Trans Canada Highway 401 which has been officially renamed “the Highway of Heroes”. It is the section of highway stretching from Trenton (20 minutes east of me) to Toronto (90 minutes west of me) which every Canadian killed in service to Canada in Afghanistan has travelled with their families. It is along this stretch that thousands of Canadians turn out in the frigid cold of January, the searing heat of July and all the weather in between to salute our fallen Canadian and express our collective pain at their loss.

During the last year, I’ve been part of saluting two of those who are going to be among those receiving military decorations from the Governor-General (the Canadian Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces) at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. There will be 48 receiving decorations for valour and service to this country. They are among the thousands of Canadian service personnel who leave their families to serve Canada here and abroad.

Captain Jonathan Snyder is among those receiving the Star of Military Valour. The citation reads:

Master Corporal Ball, then corporal, as well as corporals Baker and Bancarz, and captains Peel and Snyder, were deployed to Afghanistan to serve as mentors to an Afghan company, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents on June 4, 2008. With little chance of survival, they exposed themselves to great peril and retaliated against the enemy while encouraging the Afghan soldiers to do the same. Captain Snyder seized control of the situation and ensured that the Afghan soldiers retrieved their wounded comrades. Master Corporal Ball led a two-man team across broken terrain to secure an extraction route that allowed for the execution of a fighting withdrawal by Captain Peel and corporals Bancarz and Baker. Because of their dedication, leadership and valour, many Afghan and Canadian lives were saved.

Captain Snyder didn’t die that day, he lost his life 3 days later.

Captain Bryce Keller is among those receiving the Medal of Military Valour:

On August 3, 2006, while exposed to intense enemy fire in Afghanistan, Corporal Keller demonstrated courage and leadership in order to allow his comrades to attend to a critically wounded soldier. Sadly, Corporal Keller made the ultimate sacrifice that day, but his selfless actions contributed to saving lives and enabled his platoon to hold vital terrain until reinforcements arrived.

The remaining 46 receiving their decorations on Friday thankfully wont be travelling along the Highway of Heroes in a solemn motorcade escorted, by police and military vehicles, containing limos of family members and the chilling sight of hearses but they are every bit as much our heroes and this Canadian salutes them and all our men and women serving Canada, especially in Afghanistan.

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notice: The content of this post contains my opinions and my right to express them. I will respect your right to express your opinion in the comments as long as you’re not abusive and you respect my right to my opinion.

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