Nine weeks ago yesterday, on ABC Wednesday-- letter H, I posted about Canada's Highway of Heroes.
That's the stretch of road where thousands of Canadians have been spontaneously turning out to pay respects to fallen soldiers as their remains are driven from CFB Trenton airbase to Toronto, Ontario.
More than fifty caring people left comments on that post and then I was unexpectently honoured on September 11th by David McMahon with the Post Of The Day Award on his blog for my post.
This Tuesday November 11th, Kevin Tibbles of NBC News in the U.S. filed a report about Canada's Highway of Heroes, with a video that you can watch here.
Washington, DC prohibits repatriation ceremonies from being filmed, and this story has really resonated south of the border.
The story touched many people on the internet.
"Hooray for our Canadian neighbors for showing us how it should be done," one viewer writes into MSNBC.com.
Another says, "Maybe someday soon Americans will once again be allowed to properly honor our war heroes."
"As a retired U.S. Army soldier, I (we) sometimes forget the sacrifices of our allies...a nice story," writes another viewer.
Then this, "I'm still choked up at the story... What a wonderful way to honor the fallen soldiers and show sympathy with their families. I wish we had some way to do something similar in the U.S."
I would like to encourage all my American readers to view the video from NBC news and to perhaps leave their comments on the web site.
Also, why not contact your government representatives today to suggest that the time is way overdue for your American heroes to also be similarly honoured by the U.S. public.
That's the stretch of road where thousands of Canadians have been spontaneously turning out to pay respects to fallen soldiers as their remains are driven from CFB Trenton airbase to Toronto, Ontario.
More than fifty caring people left comments on that post and then I was unexpectently honoured on September 11th by David McMahon with the Post Of The Day Award on his blog for my post.
This Tuesday November 11th, Kevin Tibbles of NBC News in the U.S. filed a report about Canada's Highway of Heroes, with a video that you can watch here.
Washington, DC prohibits repatriation ceremonies from being filmed, and this story has really resonated south of the border.
The story touched many people on the internet.
"Hooray for our Canadian neighbors for showing us how it should be done," one viewer writes into MSNBC.com.
Another says, "Maybe someday soon Americans will once again be allowed to properly honor our war heroes."
"As a retired U.S. Army soldier, I (we) sometimes forget the sacrifices of our allies...a nice story," writes another viewer.
Then this, "I'm still choked up at the story... What a wonderful way to honor the fallen soldiers and show sympathy with their families. I wish we had some way to do something similar in the U.S."
I would like to encourage all my American readers to view the video from NBC news and to perhaps leave their comments on the web site.
Also, why not contact your government representatives today to suggest that the time is way overdue for your American heroes to also be similarly honoured by the U.S. public.
Posts
23 comments:
Amen.
That was very touching - I know of the people "speak", they will listen.
What a tragic, yet lovely story.
Well done.
Congratulations on your Post of the Day award, too.
Re: your comment on my blog, any better now?
Congrats on being awarded. Cute bear as always.
Congrats on the award. And thank you to all of our allies in this war. Hopefully it will be over soon.
As a person who grew up on a military base, I remember when the soldiers came home on the bus. I lined up with dozens and dozens of people on the road they drove in on, waving and cheering, holding signs and flags. I don't know if they still do that, but I know back then the men were so touched to see us.
Seems to me that if we can honor the live soldiers coming back in such a way, we should definitely be doing more to honor those who give their lives for our country.
Thank you for a great post.
This morning I watched a video of a young soldier talking of his mission in Iraq. I think our media are very much biased. I like your blog but it requires a lot of imagination(I don't have enough!)
The current occupant of the White House didn't want the public to think of the downside of his ill begotten war and forbade the media from publishing pictures of the fallen in their caskets. It was, and is, a disgraceful blot on America and will be remedied when the President-Elect Obama take office.
I have seen it and think its the greatest place ever. Love your hero bear.
Amen. "Well done" to our friends up north. I love Canada; I really do. You guys get it right in so many ways.
That is a great idea. I am going to do that. By the way, I love the new look. Very pleasing to my old eyeballs;)
Has your site changed, Bear? Or is my display just different?
I know of places that still honor the fallen soldiers by lining up along the highway and displaying the American flag as they are driven past to the burial plot. Maybe not all over the USA but there are still places doing that out here in the Southern states.
Nice video and your tribute post WAS an awesome award winning piece.
I wish there is no war nowhere. It's sad to have so many young people hurt or died.
There is something for you in my blog. Visit and receive it. Congratulations.
The video will not start for me, but I am sure it is heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time.
I did not know that it is forbidden, how awful. Whether or not you are for or against war, it is only right and just that those who have given their lives should be remembered.
I 'heart' you, Bear.
How bizarre that the American people are not allowed to film the returning soldiers' ceremonies!
Sounds as if you have the right idea, north of the border.
Grief is a lonely business, and each of us deals with it in our own way---as for our dead soldiers returning home----is it right to have the public invited to share the family's grief, or is it better to have public ceremonies, such as laying of wreaths at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other public displays honoring our military both those returning alive ans well as those that gave their lives---?? Why give Terrorists and our countries enemies the satisfaction of watching us grieve, and incouraging them ??
thanks bear for yet another thoughtful post
darlene is absolutely right - Bush started it - the coffins coming home were not allowed to be shown
the only way to publicly say goodbye to a fallen soldier is to know of a private ceremony and be able to attend it
to make matters worse - some sick and crazy 'family values' group started showing up at soldier funerals to 'demonstrate' - they would hold up signs saying 'war is God's revenge for fags' and 'soldiers die because of abortionists'
so a law had to be passed that no congregations of ANY people was allowed within X amount of space from a soldier's funeral
what insanity
Sadly the current soon to be EX administration hasnt permitted photos taken as coffins are removed from airplanes nor has the asshat in chief attended any memorials ...
lets hope the new administration ends the war and recognizes the tremendous losses this country has suffered and honors both the living and the dead.
:-Daryl
I read your post back then Bear and it was indeed moving. Lovely tribute and a well deserved Award. I don't know how that man does it! He's a machine to keep up with everyone.
Excellent. Thanks for the update.
I like the new look. This bear is too cute to be a soldier. Which reminds me of how young we send them into battle. *sigh*
Hi Dear Bear ~~ Congratulations on your "Blog of the Day award" Well done.Our Remembrance Day is also 11th November and everything stops for a minute or two with lots of ceremonies
all round the country.We do see the coffins of our serviceman returning home.Thanks for your comments, I had a lovely time with my brother Peter and his mate Warren as I hadn't seen them for ages.Warren lives in Brisbane, Capital of Qld. Peter lives further north at Gympie. Enjoyed the visit to my daughter, Kathy and some cousins.
Take care, Love, Merle.
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