CRAMAHE TOWNSHIP — The Highway of Heroes Memorial globe will be on display at The Big Apple and downtown Colborne on Canada Day, July 1, 2020.
The metal globe is dedicated to the memory of Major Michelle Knight Mendes and the 158 Armed Forces veterans plus four civilians who travelled the Highway of Heroes after losing their lives in the war in Afghanistan.
The globe will be arriving at 12 noon Wednesday, July 1, 2020 until 1:30 p.m.. It will then relocate to Victoria Square Park in downtown Coborne for an hour of public viewing followed by an afternoon display at the Grafton Legion.
All are welcome to visit this artistic tribute. Admission is free.
BACKGROUND
Metal artist Shawn Donnan of Horizon Metalworks, Stirling, with sister Kelly Baldock assisting, completed the metal globe called the Highway of Heroes Adoption Four One Hundred and Fifty Eight in Honour of Major Michelle Knight Mendes.
The work was commissioned by Kerri Tadeu who adopted the entire section of the Highway of Heroes, along with Cpl. Nick Kerr and Master Cpl. (Retired) Colin Fitzgerald. Twice a year for the last two years, the highway has been cleaned (344 km both ways) in honour of Tadeu’s good friend Major Michelle Knight Mendes who died in Afghanistan. Michelle was the daughter of Ron and Diane Knight of Grafton.
The memorial globe tells the grassroots story of how the Highway of Heroes started in 2002.
• The Highway of Heroes Memorial globe has four battle crosses to acknowledge the first four fallen soldiers of the Afghanistan war.
• The metal “ring” the memorial globe sits on has the 158 names of the fallen soldiers and the four names of the civilians killed in Afghanistan.
• The first four names of the fallen soldiers lines up with the four battle crosses.
• A Hercules aircraft with the image of soldiers carrying a fallen comrade on the aircraft is depicted in one scene.
• Six hearses acknowledge the devastating events on April 8, 2007 and July 4, 2007 when six soldiers were carried home along the Highway of Heroes (Hwy. 401 from Trenton to Toronto) with civilians and firefighters atop a bridge over the highway.
• An image of former Chief of Defense Staff General (retired) Walter Natynczyk saluting is on the memorial globe to acknowledge the incredible support Tadeu has received from him and acknowledge his service as the CDS during the time of the Afghanistan War.
* The letters “PPCLI” (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) are on the globe to acknowledge the first four soldiers that fell and the last soldier that fell were PPCLI.
• The damaged vehicle on the memorial is to acknowledge the civilians that were killed during the Afghanistan war.
• The Highway of Heroes image on the globe and the date “May 17 2006” acknowledge the death of ‘Canada’s daughter’, the first female to be killed in combat, Captain Nicola Goddard.
• A piece of metal from a military vehicle that was in Afghanistan encompasses the bottom of the memorial.
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
