A special reunion was held on August 16 at a golf course just northwest of Port Hope. Four Canadian Armed Forces veterans who served with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry in Afghanistan were reunited for a day on the greens.
Each arrived at the golf course with unsure anticipation, as all four reunited for the first time since serving their country in Afghanistan in 2006. When they arrived at the golf course they were put at ease when they saw two familiar faces, Kerri Tadeu, who brought these four comrades together through the “Highway of Heroes Adoption” and Pro Golfer, Todd Kierstead who made this day possible through his love of the game of golf and his rehabilitation program “Bring Back The Game”. Both have a passion in helping individuals through many forms of recovery and reclamation.
On the agenda was a gauntlet of emotions. At times, vision was blurry as each one relived memories of their time fighting for our freedom overseas. There was laughter, as each one told a story of pranks that were played upon one another to undo the stresses of living through the war filled journey of their lives.
To most of us, this would just be another day of golf with friends, but for these four infanteers the significance is far greater. The healing effects of the “Bring Back the Game” program will last well beyond the four hours these comrades shared together which is why more “Highway of Heroes Round of Golf with Todd Kierstead” are scheduled under the Highway of Heroes Adoption initiative. The next Highway of Heroes Round of Golf with Todd Kierstead is being held in Grafton at the Shelter Valley Pines Golf Club this month which is open to Military, Veterans and First Responders with a focus on Mental Health and recovery through the game of golf.
“I believe in the power of the game of golf, the benefits of the tranquility, emotional healing and subsequent empowerment of our injured heroes that the golf course has to offer,” says Keirstead “Impacting in three major aspects of their recovery; physical, cognitive, and social.”
Todd Keirstead’s national program has impacted injured veterans with recovery through the game of golf since 2014. “It is about bringing our veterans together to heal. The golf program is recreational, but for most, it’s also therapeutic. The physical, emotional and economic toll of serious life changing service-related injuries does not end when service members leave the military. Years after they are discharged, veterans who were wounded while serving are more than twice as likely as their more fortunate comrades to say they had trouble adjusting to civilian life.
“Helping our helpers heal falls under the statement made by British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill during a wartime speech on 20 August 1940 ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few’ ” said Tadeu. Having received an education on the cost of war and understanding that Freedom is Far from Free, Tadeu shared a message “If you can do something, anything or everything to affect change in the lives of service men and women- I encourage you to do that”
The list of the something, anything and everything that the Highway of Heroes Adoption initiative -lead by Corporal Nick Kerr, Master Corporal (retired) Collin Fitzgerald and Kerri Tadeu has created includes:
Bringing the Veteran Community together (Military, Veterans, First Responders, Families of the Fallen and people that care about them) to pick up garbage on 344 km of the Highway of Heroes (172 km East and 172 km West) twice a year- weeks leading up to National Day of Honour on May 9 and weeks leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11. CannaConnect reimburses gas money for volunteers who have travelled as far away as Montreal, Cornwall, Ottawa, Newmarket, Guelph, Niagara Falls to clean the Highway of Heroes that stretches from Trenton to Keele Street in Toronto.
Certifying 156 individuals in Mental Health First Aid free of charge thanks to Veterans Affairs Canada for covering the cost of the course for the Veteran Community.
Donating closet to $700 to MADD Canada from returning the empty alcohol containers found during the Spring and Fall Cleans of the Highway of Heroes to bring awareness that people are drinking and driving on North America’s busiest highway.
Donating over $16,000 between Project Trauma Support and To The Stan and Back secondary to Cobourg resident Lorna Dickson’s initiative at CPK Interiors in Port Hope to support Mental Health for Military, Veterans, First Responders and their family members under the Highway of Heroes Adoption.
Commissioned Shawn Donnan to build a Highway of Heroes Adoption Four One-Hundred and Fifty-Eight in honour of Grafton’s Major Michelle Knight Mendes mobile memorial which has traveled throughout Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to Elementary Schools, Military Events, Legions and the homes of Veterans and Families of the Fallen.
“Highway of Heroes Round of Golf with Todd Kierstead” scheduled at various golf courses located between Kingston and Toronto.
Inaugural “Highway of Heroes Hockey Game” focused on Mental Health for Military, Veterans, First Responders and their family members scheduled for November 2 2019 in Kingston whereby Military, Veterans and First Responders will be playing against the Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni.
“Hits For Heroes” softball tournament for the Veteran Community scheduled for September 15 2019 in Kingston.
“Highway of Heroes Winter Family Reunion” which is a Christmas Dinner with all the fixings and family orientated fun winter games for the Veteran Community scheduled for December 28 2019 to celebrate the holiday.
The list of something, anything and everything that Sunni Boisvert with CannaConnect does to support the Highway of Heroes Initiative is she organizes with CannaConnect’s head office to reimburse gas money for the Highway of Heroes volunteers who travell as far away as Montreal, Cornwall, Ottawa, Newmarket, Guelph, Niagara Falls and everywhere in between to clean the Highway of Heroes that stretches from Trenton to Keele Street in Toronto. CannaConnect aslo sponsors the Hits For Heroes and the Highway of Heroes Winter Family Reunion to be able to run the Highway of Heroes events for Veteran Community free of charge.
If you are a Military, Veteran or First Responder interested in participating in the Highway of Heroes round of golf with Todd Kierstead or playing in the Hits for Heroes softball tournament for the Veteran Community please contact Kerri Tadeu at 613-539-1312 or svc@cogeco.ca
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
