Message from the Dion Family- "Extremely Proud of Our Son.."

Canadian Forces soldiers salute as the coffin bearing the body of Gunner Jonathan Dion is loaded on a plane during an early morning ramp ceremony Monday at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan.Photograph Courtesy of: Cpl. Daniel Merrell, Department of National Defence


The family of private Jonathan Dion killed in service in Afghanistan on December the 30th 2007, wishes to make public the following declaration:

It is never easy for parents to lose a child. We are devastated by the death of Jonathan who, with dignity, gave up his life serving his country with honour and pride alongside his brothers in arms in Afghanistan. We are extremely proud of our son and of what he accomplished during his life including his career in the Canadian Armed Forces. It will be his distinctive smile and his joie de vivre which will remain in our minds as we think of him. He loved being a soldier and loved being in the company of brothers and sisters in arms.
Jonathan had found his rightful place in the Canadian Forces. He was maturing rapidly and showed that he was living life to the fullest and was developing his full potential. He was an example to all of his family and he was a great brother. Since he passionately believed in his mission in Afghanistan we supported him when he volunteered for this mission. Quite recently he was telling us he would like to return should there be a second tour.
Jonathan lived the major part of his life in the city of Gatineau. He loved his city, his small part of the country, and his neighbourhood. He wanted more than anything else to make a difference in the world around him. He died doing what he loved best, to be a soldier and serve his country.

Repatriation

Lise Marcil, mother of killed soldier Jonathan Dion, is consoled by friends and relatives during a ceremony for her son at CFB Trenton on Wednesday. I cannot imagine the anguish she is feeling - my heart cries for her and Jonathan Dion's family at this time. My prayers are with you.

The body of Gunner Jonathan Dion, a soldier from Val-d'Or, Que., who was killed in southern Afghanistan, arrived at a military base in southeastern Ontario on Wednesday.
A transport plane carrying Dion's body unloaded the flag-draped coffin around 2 p.m. ET at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, joined Dion's family in a repatriation ceremony.
In a statement issued Monday, Dion's family said they were devastated by his death.
"It will be his distinctive smile and his joie de vivre which will remain in our minds as we think of him," said the family.
"He loved being a soldier and loved being in the company of brothers and sisters in arms."

Canadian Soldier Killed - Four Others Wounded in Afghanistan

He Is Coming Home

It is with sadness that we announce another fallen Canadian soldier, especially at a time when people are celebrating the incoming of the New Year to which Gunner Dion was enroute to KAF (only 20 kms away) to join his fellow soldiers in doing so as well. God Bless.

December 30th, 2007 - At approximately 9:10 a.m. local time (in Kandahar) today, one Canadian soldier was killed when the Armoured Vehicle he was in struck a suspected Improvised Explosive Device. Four other Canadian soldiers were also injured.The incident occurred during a routine patrol, approximately 20 km West of Kandahar city, in the Zharey District. Helicopters were used to evacuate the soldiers to the Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Airfield. The wounded soldiers are in stable condition and have contacted their families.
The identity of the deceased soldier is Gunner Jonathan Dion. Gunner Dion was 27 years old and a member of 5th Regiment d'Artillerie legere du Canada, based in Valcartier, Quebec.

The thoughts and prayers of the men and women of the Canadian Forces and families of soldiers go out to the family and friends of the Gunner Dion.

To Send Condolences to the Dion Family or View the Guest Book, click below:

http://www.legacy.com/can/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=100433258

Statement from the Minister of National Defence
The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, issued the following statement today on the death of a Canadian soldier and the wounding of four others in Afghanistan:"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Gunner Jonathan Dion, who was killed today in Afghanistan. I also wish a quick recovery to the four other soldiers injured in this incident.Gunner Dion was an exceptional Canadian who deserves the utmost gratitude and respect of this nation. This is a tragic loss for Canada and the Canadian Forces.

These soldiers were participating in a patrol in southern Afghanistan when their armoured vehicle struck a suspected improvised-explosive device. The patrol was part of Canada's efforts in this region aimed at creating the conditions necessary to allow reconstruction and development in a country devastated by decades of war and turmoil."


My further note:
In some reports I have heard, they have reported him as being a reservist and not "full time". Let me set this straight. This was not the reason of his demise. Gunner Dion was a SOLDIER.. trained and prepared to expectations of the Department of Defence...leaving his career, job, his family, his friends on hold while serving overseas with all and alongside all... his military family.

En Francais..

Fin d’année difficile pour les militaires de Valcartier en Afghanistan. Un autre soldat québécois, l’artilleur Jonathan Dion, âgé de 27 ans, a été tué dimanche par l’explosion d’une bombe artisanale. Quatre autres militaires ont aussi été blessés.
L’accident est survenu peu après 9h dimanche matin, à 20 km à l’ouest de Kandahar dans le district de Zhari. Les militaires prenaient place à bord d’un T-LAV, un blindé léger sur chenilles, lors d’une patrouille de routine lorsque le véhicule a roulé sur un engin explosif. Les militaires ont été évacués par hélicoptère et transportés à l’hôpital de la base militaire de Kandahar, où le soldat Dion est décédé peu après son arrivée. Les blessés sont quant à eux dans un état stable et ont pu téléphoner à leur famille. L’un d’eux a même reçu son congé de l’hôpital.Jonathan Dion, du 5e Régiment d’artillerie légère, s’était enrôlé dans les Forces armées canadiennes en janvier 2005, a indiqué dimanche Bruno Tremblay, officier d’affaires publiques à la base de Valcartier. Il s’était envolé pour l’Afghanistan en août et en était à sa première mission à l’étranger. Le jeune homme, né à Val d’Or, en Abitibi, a par la suite grandi à Gatineau. La famille n’a pas encore indiqué quelles informations elle souhaitait divulguer sur leur proche, a ajouté le lieutenant Tremblay.La mort de ce soldat porte à 74 le nombre de militaires canadiens tués en Afghanistan depuis le début de la mission, en 2002. Les derniers décès dans les rangs des soldats de Valcartier remontent à la mi-novembre, au moment où deux militaires ont perdu la vie lorsque leur véhicule blindé a roulé sur un engin explosif. Depuis le déploiement des troupes de Valcartier cet été en sol afghan, six militaires québécois y ont perdu la vie.«Nous sommes attristés par la perte tragique de notre frère d’armes», a déclaré le brigadier-général Guy Laroche, à la base de Kandahar. «Nous porterons le deuil. Nous l’honorerons et nous le garderons dans nos mémoires. Ce faisant, nous continuerons, avec la même résolution, notre mission d’aider le peuple afghan à trouver la paix et la stabilité.»À la base militaire de Valcartier, un communiqué a été émis dimanche en fin de journée. «Nous avons perdu plus qu’un collègue aujourd’hui, nous avons perdu un frère, a déclaré le lieutenant-colonel Dany Fortin, commandant du 5e Régiment d’artillerie légère. Nos cœurs sont avec la famille et les amis de ce brave soldat. Nos esprits se portent par ailleurs vers nos collègues toujours présents en Afghanistan qui, professionnels et fiers, continuent à aider les Afghans au quotidien.»Comme à l’habitude dans ce genre de circonstances, le premier ministre Stephen Harper a transmis ses condoléances à la famille du soldat Dion par voie de communiqué, tout comme le ministre de la Défense, Peter MacKay. Le premier ministre Jean Charest a quant à lui tenu à souligner «le courage et la bravoure de ceux et celles qui servent en Afghanistan pour venir en aide aux
populations».

REPATRIATION:
The repatriation ceremony for fallen Canadian soldier Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27, of 5th Régiment d'Artillerie légère du Canada, based in Valcartier, Québec is tentatively scheduled for:

Wednesday, Jananuary 2nd, 2008

2 p.m.

at CFB Trenton

In attendance will be General Rick Hillier and Defence Minister Peter MacKay.
Please join in honouring Gunner Dion on overpasses along the Highway of Heroes (Hwy 401 west of Trenton to Toronto)