My suggestion for 2006 newsmaker of the year are the Canadians whom we can never thank enough

Toronto Sun ^ | 2006-12-30 | Joe Warmington

[Clive]

Five black hearses lined up in a row.

With the Canadian flags on their hoods blowing in the wind, it's an image from 2006 that no Canadian can forget.

The date was Sept. 6. Five of our young men were coming home from war and the hearses were on the tarmac at CFB Trenton to receive them.

Time magazine had Stephen Harper as its newsmaker of the year. Viewers on CTV's Canada AM felt it was speed skater Cindy Klassen. Both are good people but my vote is for the 38 fine Canadians killed in combat -- 36 soldiers, one diplomat in Afghanistan and one soldier in Lebanon.

In fact, every Canadian Soldier is 2006's newsmaker of the year. Brave, honourable and proud. Not since the Korean war have we seen this type of sacrifice or valour by our service men and women.

In the Persian Gulf, as this war on terrorism began, I remember seeing a sailor on the HMCS Iroquois playing his bagpipes in memory of all fallen soldiers as the sun set. My spine tingled and it was a reminder of how these are a special breed. We can never thank them enough for their service.

FLAG-DRAPED CASKET

It's never easy to honour those who have died for us. On that same day of Sept. 6, one of many repatriation ceremonies, the anguish on the children's faces was devastating.

A flag-draped casket being lowered from a Government of Canada Airbus is also not something easily digested.

But the mission is worthy -- as is the work our troops have done for the oppressed Afghan people who dream of freedom. Canadians have died for this dream and others were supposed to.

Some refuse to. Instead, they fight to rehabilitate themselves in Canadian hospitals and never complain. Suicide bombing victims Clp. Denver Williams and Sapper Mike McTeague are two examples of determination at St. John's Rehab Hospital. McTeague, 20, took a ball-bearing through his neck amongst dozens of other wounds and Williams said "I broke so many things I have lost count."

LIST OF LOSSES

These guys put more on the line in 2006 than either Harper or Klassen. And so did all of those who died.

They are:

Diplomat Glyn Berry, Cpl. Paul David, Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson, Pte. Robert Costall, Lieut. William Turner, Bombardier Myles Mansell, Pte. Kevin Dallaire, Cpl. Matthew Dinning, Capt. Nichola Goddard, Cpl. Anthony Boneca, Cpl. Jason Warren, Cpl. Francisco Gomez, Cpl. Bryce Keller, Sgt. Vaughan Ingram, Cpl. Christopher Reid, Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt, Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh, Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom, Cpl. David Braun, Pte. William Cushley, Sgt. Shane Stachnik, Pte. Mark Graham, Cpl. Keith Morley, Pte. Josh Klukie, Cpl. Robert Mitchell, Sgt. Craig Gillam, Trooper Mark Andrew Wilson, Sgt. Darcy Tedford, Pte. Blake Williamson, Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan, Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, Cpl. Glen Arnold, Cpl. Shane Keating, Pte. David Byers, Sgt. Warrant Officer Robert Girouard, Cpl. Albert Storm and Cpl. Randy Payne and Maj. Paeta Hess-von Kruedener, who was killed in Lebanon.

Throughout the year, there were so many memorable images of soldiers helping Afghani orphans, soldiers in battle or snapshots of the aftermath of a deadly roadside bomb where Canadians were killed.

That's the reality of a Canadian soldier in 2006.

Sure, some question the mission but so many Canadians are behind these troops. Numerous Red Rallies in unity were organized across the country, including the Sea of Red Toronto displayed Sept. 29 at Dundas Square.

It was a busy year, but it will be difficult to forget the hearses, the courage of soldiers battling back and the full support of a thankful nation.

That was 2006 -- the Year of The Soldier.

[Clive]

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[fanfan]

Canada ping.

Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[Nathan Zachary]

Indeed they were newsmakers of the year, and probably had the most consecutive headlines written about them. They still get headlines by leftist media who just can't stop gloating over their deaths for their bravery and sacrifice while trying to establish peace and freedom to another nations people.

God bless them and their families for their sacrifice.

[ClaireSolt]

Real war heros triumph.

[happygrl]

My spine tingled and it was a reminder of how these are a special breed. We can never thank them enough for their service.

Amen.

I wish we would return to the custom of the British and have a cenotaph in every "village" or town with the names of the hometown soldiers who gave their all, as a permanent reminder of the cost of our liberty.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.