Repatriation 4PM Sunday August 26th

Photo Credit: Dawn Olsen

Our fallen soldiers, Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier and Master Corporal Christian Duchesne, both members of the Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4, based out of Kandahar, Afghanistan, are scheduled to return home to Canada on Sunday.

Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When: Sunday, August 26, 4:00 p.m.

Present to pay their respects will be Her Excellency, the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and other dignitaries.

Master Warrant Officer Mercier and Master Corporal Duchesne succumbed to their injuries after their armoured vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on August 22, approximately 50 km west of Kandahar City. At the time of the incident, the Canadian soldiers were returning to base by Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) after completing Operation EAGLE EYE, a joint operation with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) aiming at bringing more stability to the district of Zarey.

For those who would like to join fellow Canadians honour and wish to express your support and caring for the soldiers and families, along the Highway of Heroes overpasses, they will depart along the Highway of Heroes approximately an hour after repatriation, where the procession will travel westbound along the Highway of Heroes (Hwy 401 W) from Trenton to Toronto.

Wave your flags proudly, wear your red - let the families know you are proudly here for them, in support, in prayers, with love and with tears-

as we are all one family - a military family.