Saluting Those Who Served In Afghanistan
Local cenotaph ceremony marks National Day of Honour 250News photo
Prince George, BC – Balloons dotted the skyline above City Hall, as the names of the 158 men and women who died in the line of duty while serving in Afghanistan were read out during a ceremony at the cenotaph to mark the first National Day of Honour.
Among those names were two from Prince George: 25-year-old Corporal Matthew McCully who was killed on May 25th, 2007 and 21-year-old Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick, who was critically injured in Afghanistan and succumbed to his injuries in hospital in Edmonton on March of 2010. Flags engraved with their names stood on either side of the cenotaph during this morning's short ceremony, which included a colour parade, and two-minutes of silence.
The fathers of two local men currently serving in the military laid a wreath on behalf of all families of members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Bob Greenaway's son, Master Corporal Chris Greenaway, served in Afghanistan and is currently stationed in Edmonton. "My son is a 7th generation soldier," says the local dad, proudly. The family's military roots date back to a great-grandfather who fought on the Plains of Abraham. "So it's in his blood."
Dan Brown (at right in photo) was at this morning's service to honour his son and others. Captain Patrick Brown was born and raised in Prince George. He served in Afghanistan and continues to serve.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #43 President, Bruce Gabriel, says the National Day of Honour is another opportunity to salute the fallen and those who continue to serve, and the families who let them do so.
"It's an opportunity for us to say thank you for those who gave so much in their service of the country. In this particular case, it was in Afghanistan. We have a lot of military families – between 40 and 50 military familes – in Prince George that their sons or daughters served there and, as you know, some paid the ultimate sacrifice."
The names of Corporal Matthew McCully and Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick are expected to be engraved on the cenotaph by Remembrance Day.
Comments
How many innocent afghani’s have been killed by NATO troops?
Do we salute them as well?
Corporal McCully is not from Prince George. His father lives here and so as a memorial cross holder his son’s sacrifice is represented. Corporal McCull’s sacrfice would be properaly recognized on his home town cenotaph, but that’s not Prince George.
The two names to be added to the cenotaph are Fitzpatrick and Matters, both of whom are from Prince George and died as a result of wounds received – Fitzpatrick from an IED in Afghanistan, and Matters due to PTSD from service in Bosnia.
Actually Greg Matters died due to being shot twice in the back by an incompetent swat team!
A policeman is your friend.
I know Mathews Father and stepmother. He had a life here in Prince George too. Who are you to say he doesn’t deserve to be honoured here as well as where his mother lives. Learn a little more about the facts before you post such ignorant comments about one of our own.
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