Close to 50 riders took part in the seventh annual Memorial Ride for the Fallen to honour Canada鈥檚 fallen soldiers in Afghanistan, traveling from Vancouver to 91原创鈥檚 Afghanistan Memorial Monument, the Walk to Remember.
Canadian flags lined the walkway of the memorial at Derek Doubleday Arboretum, which contains the names of each of the 158 Canadian troops killed in Afghanistan, and a tree has been planted in memory of each of them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a way of showing that we haven鈥檛 forgotten the sacrifices of their loved ones while they were serving our country,鈥� organizer Barry 鈥淏rutus鈥� Drews said .
鈥淚 just thought it was the right thing to do.鈥�
Drews is a member of the unit, which was responsible for having a portion of Highway 1 in 91原创 designated the Highway of Heroes in 2011.
The movement spread across the country with the last dedication taking place in Newfoundland and Labrador last fall.
Now, every province has one.
Five Silver Cross families laid wreaths at the memorial.
The Silver Cross or Memorial Cross is awarded to the next of kin of Canadian soldiers who died on active duty or whose death was consequently attributed to such duty.
The crosses were sent automatically to mothers and wives who qualified, and could be worn by the recipients anytime, even though they were not themselves veterans. The cross was engraved with the name, rank and service number of the son or husband.
One of the Silver Cross mothers at the 91原创 event, Sheila Fynes from Victoria, rode to the event as a passenger on a motorcycle to remember her son, Cpl. Stuart Langridge.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 own a motorbike,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 look around at these men and women and they just have such pure hearts and are so full of respect. This means everything for me.鈥�
Langridge, 28, was found dead in his Edmonton barracks in 2008.
Two years later, the Afghanistan war veteran was given the Sacrifice Medal, which is awarded to soldiers who die 鈥渁s a result of military service or are wounded by hostile action.鈥�
A scathing report by the Military Police Complaints Commission on the investigation into Langridge鈥檚 death, concluded his family was disrespected, ignored and given potentially misleading information.
Master of ceremonies Rick Streifel, himself a veteran, reminded those present that 70 of the Canadian deaths in Afghanistan were the result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).鈥滳anada has the highest lifetime PTSD prevalence rate out of 16 countries worldwide,鈥� Streifel said.
鈥淭hose that fell were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters brothers and sisters,鈥� Streifel said.
鈥淎nd today we have gathered here to show their families, the Memorial Cross recipients of this province, that they, as well as their families, will never be forgotten.鈥�
The other Silver Cross families present were Ann and Garry Bason, Sian and Brad Lisuer, Diane Street and Nancy and Allan Mansell.
The ride started at Trev Deeley in Vancouver before heading up up Hwy 1 en route to the Derek Doubleday Park off Fraser Hwy in 91原创 for the memorial service
The Walk to Remember was built in 2012 as a result of the efforts of two 91原创 students, .
The two formed 91原创 Youth for the Fallen in 2011 to promote their dream of establishing the memorial grove.
Through sponsorships and partnerships with the Township of 91原创, Arboretum and Botanical Society of 91原创, Rotary clubs, Veterans Affairs Canada, and other community groups, 158 trees were planted along the Walk 鈥� one for every Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
