Grafton Woman Remembered Along The Highway of Heroes
Fallen soldier remembered along the Highway of Heroes on Thursday, April 23, 2020 as a small group cleans up off and on-ramp along Highway of Heroes.
The annual Spring Clean of the Highway of Heroes (172 km east and 172 km west from Trenton to Keele Street in Toronto) was put on hold at the beginning of April due to COVID-19.
For the past three years, the Spring Clean goal has been to have the clean finished by the anniversary of Major Michelle Knight Mendes death which is on April 23, 2009.
A small group of Highway of Heroes volunteers including her mother Dianne remembered Michelle on Thursday, April 23, 2020 by cleaning her hometown of Grafton’s, on and off-ramps in both the east and westbound lanes of the Highway of Heroes.
Strict rules set in place for social distancing were kept in place at all times.
“When we stand together we stand a chance to help our ill and injured service men and women recover from their operational stress injuries,” said Kerri Tadeu who along with two others adopted the entire stretch of Highway of Heroes.
The group is aiming for Canada Day to clean Toronto Road in Port Hope – a special section of the Highway of Heroes which was adopted in memory of Port Hope resident, Anna Loveman’s son Craftsman Kyle Sinclair who died in an incident at CFB Petawawa in 2014.
Tadeu said she is very grateful to everyone who comes out to pick up the garbage which is tossed out the windows with no regard to the environment or the men and women who pick it up who are Remembering All That Gave Some and Some That Gave All on that stretch of soil where 158 Fallen Soldiers were repatriated home.
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