10th Anniversary of Heroes Highway Ride A Success As 2,200 Motorcycles Thunder Into Port Hope
Video of Heroes Highway Ride
Over 2,200 motorcycles came thundering in Port Hope on Saturday June 2, 2018 for the 10th annual Heroes Highway Ride.
The ride was always meant to show the support for those who serve Canada along with their families and first responders.
Founder Lou DeVuono said the ride was a great success.
“One of the things that pleased me the most was the community engagement has definitely increased and that’s a huge step going forward.”
“Now that we’ve found a home in Port Hope that strengthens that bond.”
Like members of the military, the biker community are family.
“There’s no doubt about it. And I think the reason the biker community and the members of the Canadian forces are so similar is it’s very much they same life. They count on one another. They all have each others back.”
Port Hope Mayor Bob Sanderson was among the dignitaries who greeted the riders at the opening ceremony.
Just days after hip surgery Sanderson proudly took to the stage with a cane for support and spoke of how proud Port Hope is to have the HHR.
“This community is steeped in military history and has participated in every excursion since confederation.”
“It’s a heartfelt community event and I think they plan on coming back year after year and as long as we can continue that relationship with them, we hope it will continue as well.”
Co-founder of The CAV (Canadian Army Veteran’s motorcycle group) Paul “Trapper” Cane is very well respected in the military circle throughout Canada and beyond.
Born in Cobourg Ontario enlisted in 1970’s in the Canadian Armed Forces, Cane was a member of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry and the Canadian Airborne Regiment on numerous United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operations, world wide serving in the Pathfinder Platoon, as a Sniper, Mountain Warfare Instructor and recently top candidate of the CF’s Advanced RECCE Patrolman’s Course.
Paralysed after a 180 ft free descent after a parachute collapse on operations. Cane was retired medically in the 1990’s after 18 surgeries and two years in hospital, motorcycling was the only physical remainder of his old life.
Cane has travelled countless times across Canada on his motorcycle to support members of the military and their families.
“Every single time one of those soldiers came back (along the Highway of Heroes) we were coming not to be seen as motorcyclists, we were coming to support the families. When we do events like this years after the mission ends, those families know that we’re still there for them.” “And it’s critical that every Christmas they have to celebrate without a son or daughter who has given their life for our country we are there for them and they are not alone, we are there for them 24/7.”
Cane adds for everyone at some point in their life they will feel they are alone.
“For those who have given everything in service to Canada and then have to live with the legacy of that service, the good, the bad and sadly the ugly, or the families that live with them and try to teach them how to be civilians again, every little bit of support we give them is crucial to making our country stronger because they made our country stronger. And this is what makes Canada beautiful.”
Before the Highway of Heroes, Cane escorted fallen soldiers home and has kept in touch with the families, but the Highway of Heroes is something that showed the world how Canada treats their fallen.
“The British used to bring their dead home in the dark, the Americans used to bring their dead in the dark, but the Highway of Heroes in brought daylight with flags flying and people weeping in unison with the families who are suffering it makes our nation heal in a small way and Canada has lead the way in this respect always.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love