The first day of the 2020 Fall Clean of the Highway of Heroes kicked off in a unique manner on Monday, September 7, 2020.
The Higwhay of Heroes Volunteers started the 2020 Fall Clean in Toronto on Keele Street with a Mother of a Fallen Soldier, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Military Police Academy, Nancy Siew remembering her son, Captain Cletus Cheng.
The volunteers efforts continued in Port Hope on Toronto Road with Silver Cross Mother Anna Loveman remembering her son, Craftsman Kyle Sinclair.
Many people donated their time in Port Hope including Port Hope councillor Jeff Lees and Queenies Bake Shop owner Adam Pearson.
Every Spring and Fall Clean, Loveman crochets a blanket and gifts her labour of love blankets to one of the volunteers and this Fall, Cramahe Township Mayor, Mandy Martin received the blanket as a small token of appreciation for participating in cleaning Toronto Road which is dedicated to honouring Craftsman Sinclair’s service and sacrifice.
From Port Hope the volunteers moved to Lyle Street in Grafton to meet Silver Cross Mother Dianne Knight, remembering her daughter, Major Michelle Knight Mendes whom the Highway of Heroes was adopted in memory of and whose life and legacy continues to affect change under the Highway of Heroes Adoption lead by Kerri Tadeu.
Cobourg resident, Lorna Dickson who is nicknamed the Highway of Heroes Earth Angel donated $444.00 to To The Stan and Back under the Highway of Heroes Adoption. With incredible support from Dickson’s coworkers, Dickson initiative to help ill and injured service men and women with Mental Heath issues has resulted in over $17,000 donated between Project Trauma Support and To The Stan & Back – both organizations that are dedicated to supporting Military Members, Veterans and First Responders.
The volunteers finished their day in Trenton with Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison and his wife Jane.
The 2020 Fall Clean of the Highway of Heroes started with the youngest volunteers, Courtice residents, Michael and Maria Moreau (whose mother and grandparents are veterans) cleaning alongside the most senior Highway of Heroes volunteer, Grafton Veteran, Bill Bachellier.
If anyone is interested in participating in the 2020 Fall Clean of the Highway of Heroes you can 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
