Support Our Troops
WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS TO SHOW YOU CARE
Friends
of Veterans Canada and
Red Fridays Foundation of Canada proudly
presents
The Repatriation and Memorial Drive and Rally
May 31 2008 - Trenton to Toronto
People wishing to
send in pictures or video that can be published here and
shared with the families of the fallen can send them to
rdr@redfridays.ca
Slide show from Lead Vehicle perspective - RFFC
Highway of Heroes
Repatriation Ride May 31/08 From YouTube Member -
Karlgan
_____________________________________________
Collection of
photos submitted by Marilyn on her
Facebook _____________________________________________
Photos submitted by
a CAV member.
_____________________________________________
On
May 31 2008 the Emergency Management Ontario EmComm
Group established a radio network where radio
operators across Ontario could report in and pay
their respects for our fallen Canadian soldiers. The
network was controlled from the Provincial Emergency
Operations Centre located in Toronto and we were in
communications with vehicles in the memorial
procession.
A full report has been
posted on the EMO ARES website: http://www.emoares.org/repatriation2008.html
One of our radio operators also took pictures during
the procession which have been posted as a
power-point presentation:
Thank to all those
who participated, volunteered with special thanks to the
City of Qunite West, Downsview Park, The Ontario
Provincial Police, Durham Police Services, Toronto
Police services, The CAV and the Royal Canadian Legion.
____________________________________________
CHS receives $12,000 donation from Red Fridays
Foundation of Canada
Toronto/ON
– On Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 The Canadian
Hearing Society (CHS) received a $12,000 donation from
the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada (RFFC). The funds
were raised through RFFC’s successful Repatriation
Memorial Drive on Saturday, May 31, 2008. The event
hosted over 1000 cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles
which rode from Trenton to Toronto along the Highway of
Heroes to pay tribute to Canadian service men and women
and veterans.
(photo P. Muntz)
“This is an incredibly generous donation from the Red
Fridays Foundation,” said Susan Main, CHS
Vice-President, Fundraising and Strategic
Communications. “We have been very impressed with the
group’s professionalism and dedication and their
donation will help us to continue to provide essential
services to our veterans with hearing loss.”
The
money raised at the rally will be used to support the
CHS Hearing Care Counseling program which helps people
adapt to their hearing loss and continue to lead
independent lives. Program counselors provide home
visits, education, and demonstrations and
recommendations of communication devices. One of the
aims of the program is to give veterans with a hearing
loss the skills they need to stay safely and
independently at home, improve communication with family
and friends and help them to stay involved in their
favourite activities.
“We are
very excited to be able to present CHS with this
donation on behalf of all the participants of our Rally
and Memorial Drive,” said Brian Muntz, RFFC Founder.
“All of us who were involved with this event are so
pleased to know that the money we raised will make a
real difference in the lives of our veterans.”
What is the sound of a
repatriation? by Brian Muntz
Is
it the sound of the chatter on TV announcing the name of the fallen
serving our country? Perhaps the sound from the roar of the large
military jet landing in Trenton? Is it the sound of the doors
opening on the air craft or the sound of the boots of the soldiers
carrying the coffin? Is it the sound of the pipers playing a song of
sorrow, or the sound of the commanding officer calling his orders.
Was it the sound of the Hearse doors opening or the sound of the
people and family near by. Repatriation may be the sound of the cars
moving to the Highway of Heroes but then again it may be the sound
of the people standing on the bridges. Is it the sound of the
traffic going by in anticipation of the procession or the sound of
the occasional horn honking as drivers see you on the bridge. Maybe it's the sound of the flags flapping
in the wind that people are holding. Then in the
distance the procession is in sight and the people on the bridge are
mumbling "here it comes". Is the sound of repatriation the police
sirens that fills the air as the procession reaches your bridge? The sound of sirens vibrate in your chest then
in a beat of your heart you finally hear the sound of a
repatriation. It is the sound of a silent "Thank You" from you and
all the people around you to the soldier that gave his life for his
country; your country. This is the sound of a repatriation; our
freedom.
_________________________________________________
We Like to thank the following
participants, volunteers and sponsors.
John R. Williams
Mayor of Quinte West (Trenton)
Special thanks to Scarsview Chrysler for the sponsorship
of the Red Fridays Car. This car will be auctioned off
later this year with proceeds going to the Tony Stacey
Centre.
Special Thanks to our
Police Services
Red
Fridays Foundation would like to thank the officers of
the Ontario Provincial Police OPP, Durham Police force
and Toronto Police services for assisting with the safe
passage of the the 83 red vehicles special procession
representing our fallen and the families of the fallen
that will be in the procession in a special coach bus.
We like to thank OPP Golden Helmet Motorcade Services
for taking lead with their honorable team of Motorcycle
Police officers. Durham Police Services has included a
special Red police car with full lights to also lead the
memorial procession from Trenton to Toronto. Toronto
Police services are also assisting in the Toronto area
to bring in the procession of red vehicles and the
families. To our all the men and women police officers
that have participated in all the repatriations with
their professional services - Thank you.
The Poppy Truck
Ontario
Military Vehicle Association to be at rallies
Devin
Castilloux
Special thanks to Rico Imaging. Vehicle Wrap designed by
Yasser from Rico Imaging
If
you see the Red Fridays Car on the road, be sure to wave
and/or hold up the international symbol for peace.
Lets start a trend of
showing the peace symbol to all supporters who show they
care by displaying a ribbon or wearing red on Fridays!