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Petty Officer Douglas Craig Blake returns home
Canadian Navy suffers first Afghan casualty
May 06, 2010 - 05:16 PM
Bill Tremblay
TRENTON -- CFB Trenton has welcomed home the Canadian Navy's first sailor to perish in Afghanistan.
Petty Officer Douglas Craig Blake, a 37-year-old explosive ordnance disposal operator, was killed by a roadside bomb on Monday, May 3, while walking in the Panjwai'i District of Afghanistan. He is the fifth Canadian Forces member to die this year and the 143rd soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002.
Mourners gathered alongside the fence of CFB Trenton to watch the repatriation ceremony of Petty Officer Blake on Thursday, May 6.
Belleville resident Gail McCosham said the repatriation was the first opportunity she has had to pay her respects to one of Canada's fallen soldiers.
"The troops are going through a lot and this is the least we can do," Ms. McCosham said.
Elsa Knight, from Erinsville, Ontario, said she decided to stop at CFB Trenton as they returned home from a lunch meeting. The repatriation of Petty Officer Blake is the first time Ms. Knight and her husband have paid their respects in person.
"I thought it was just for family and military," she said. "We should come out to all of them."
Ms. Knight said she felt helpless as she watched a coffin lowered to 8 Wing's tarmac.
"It's a sad, sad day," Ms. Knight said.
Although the repatriation was an emotional experience, Ms. Knight said she is glad they decided to stop.
"It's an awesome experience," Ms. Knight said. "There should be ten times as many people here."
Jane Allen, from Prescott, Ontario, described the ceremony to her four-year-old grandson Travis as they gazed through the base's fence. She believes the ceremony is a learning experience for Travis.
"We're teaching him the right thing to do," Ms. Allen said. "We're teaching him respect."
Canadian Navy suffers first Afghan casualty
May 06, 2010 - 05:16 PM
Bill Tremblay
TRENTON -- CFB Trenton has welcomed home the Canadian Navy's first sailor to perish in Afghanistan.
Petty Officer Douglas Craig Blake, a 37-year-old explosive ordnance disposal operator, was killed by a roadside bomb on Monday, May 3, while walking in the Panjwai'i District of Afghanistan. He is the fifth Canadian Forces member to die this year and the 143rd soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002.
Mourners gathered alongside the fence of CFB Trenton to watch the repatriation ceremony of Petty Officer Blake on Thursday, May 6.
Belleville resident Gail McCosham said the repatriation was the first opportunity she has had to pay her respects to one of Canada's fallen soldiers.
"The troops are going through a lot and this is the least we can do," Ms. McCosham said.
Elsa Knight, from Erinsville, Ontario, said she decided to stop at CFB Trenton as they returned home from a lunch meeting. The repatriation of Petty Officer Blake is the first time Ms. Knight and her husband have paid their respects in person.
"I thought it was just for family and military," she said. "We should come out to all of them."
Ms. Knight said she felt helpless as she watched a coffin lowered to 8 Wing's tarmac.
"It's a sad, sad day," Ms. Knight said.
Although the repatriation was an emotional experience, Ms. Knight said she is glad they decided to stop.
"It's an awesome experience," Ms. Knight said. "There should be ten times as many people here."
Jane Allen, from Prescott, Ontario, described the ceremony to her four-year-old grandson Travis as they gazed through the base's fence. She believes the ceremony is a learning experience for Travis.
"We're teaching him the right thing to do," Ms. Allen said. "We're teaching him respect."
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