There were tears, many tears, but there were also smiles and of course hugs many, many hugs at a ceremony in Grafton to remember and honour a hometown girl.
The cenotaph engraving ceremony on Saturday, July 28, 2018 was in honour of Major Michelle Knight Mendes who died in Afghanistan on April 23, 2009.
A number of family members including her parents, Ron and Dianne Knight and dignitaries including the Mayor of Alnwick/Haldimand Township, members of her Special Intelligence Unit, Trenton Wing Commander, OPP, Legion District Commander, Legion Zone Commander, MP Kim Rudd and MPP David Piccini were in attendance.
The Grafton Legion worked with the Friends of Grafton Sports and Activities to add the fallen soldiers name to the cenotaph in Grafton.
Piper Bill Ruttle led the honour guard to the cenotaph to start the ceremony at 11 a.m.
A number of people spoke during 30 minute ceremony including clergy.
Bill Pratt told the group gathered of the love and respect he had for his niece.
“Good morning, may you enjoy peace. The key word “peace.”
In a general conversation many years ago Knight Mendes said to her uncle, “peace is far off because of hatred in this world.”
“Today, let us vow to bring ourselves, our family, our community, our country closer to peace that we can feel and enjoy.”
Pratt spoke of the ingredients to a wonderful day, including, friendly words, understanding, human kindness, time and patience, warm loving personality, dry humour, spice of life and love your neighbours as yourself.
The results will be peace, happiness and many friends.
“Michelle had many friends, some of these friends depended on Michelle for assistance, some were struggling to handle the challenges that our life offered.”
“Michelle never gave up. She was there to help. Michelle wanted everyone to enjoy peace if at all possible.”
“Show your love and remembrance for Major Michelle Knight Mendes by bringing greater peace to your own life, to this community and to Canada.”
The parents of Knight Mendes unveiled the etching done to the cenotaph prior to the Last Post being played followed by two minutes of silence.
A wreath was placed at the cenotaph shortly before the ceremony ended.
Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) Peter Manuge met Major Michelle Knight Mendes in Kingston in the early 2000’s when she was in the artillery service before she became an intelligence officer.
Manuge traveled from Carleton Place on Saturday to attend the ceremony in Grafton.
In 2006 Major Michelle Knight Mendes was the Deputy Commander of the All Source Intelligence.
At that time, Knight Mendes was a Captain and Manuge was a Master Warrant Officer.
“She was an outstanding human being. She always had a smile. Had a deep caring for everybody and was very professional.”
“A great, great person to have around.”
Manuge has no doubt Knight Mendes would have excelled further in her career.
“She was that calibre to become a true senior leader in the Canadian Armed Forces.”
When Manuge saw Knight Mendes in April 2009 when she arrived in Kandahar, “I remember the first time she stepped into the workspace, there was that lovely smile and she asked everybody “how are you doing today?”
“It was like a ray of sunshine burst into that workspace because it was a place with no windows.”
After serving in the military for over three decades up to that point, Manuge has seen “the dark side of humanity and that smile, her voice was so sincere.”
Manuge retired from the military just over a year ago after 37 years said Knight Mendes was very professional and passionate about her job as an intelligence officer.
“She was always, always, that ray of sunshine. I’ve known lots of people I worked with and sometimes we have a bad day and you can tell that, but you’d never see that in Michelle.”
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
