The Canadian Heroes memorial vehicle has been going across Canada, a rolling tribute to the Canadian military and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis. It was in Yorkton at the Painted Hand Casino and Yorkton Toyota.
Owner operator Don Fraser says he got involved because he thought the Canadian Heroes foundation was doing great work, and he could increase their representation in the west.
The not-for-profit organization builds awareness for the fallen, for first line responders and does work building memorials.
“I thought it was a great way to recognize sacrifice, to portray it and keep the memory alive.”
The truck has been on tour across Canada, visiting the families of Corporal Andrew Paul Grenon, Corporal Michael James Alexander Seggie, Private Chadwick James Horn, Captain Jonathan Sutherland Snyder and Corporal Michael Starker, all of whom were killed in Afghanistan in 2008.
Those men are also depicted on the back of the truck, and Fraser also served with them during the conflict. He says the families have been happy to see the truck.
“It has been a roller coaster of raw emotion, up and down.”
For Fraser, it was a personal project, as he had a close connection to all five men on the truck. He says it’s been an emotional experience, but a rewarding one.
“I kind of suffer from PTSD, so it was therapeutic in a way, and gives another way of dealing with it. At the same time, you’re giving tribute and focus to those who paid the ultimate price.”
Fraser also believes that there needs to be reminders of what is still happening, and that it’s not just violent conflict that sees people put their lives on the line for the people in this country.
“We’re still doing something, there are still guys overseas, and we have got to keep it in the forefront and keep people aware of what we are doing. It’s not just overseas, look at what we’ve got going in Northern Saskatchewan, we have 800 troops up there helping fight forest fires,” Fraser says.
“It keeps it there in the forefront, and it is something that should never be forgotten.”
Now that he has visited the families, the truck is now travelling to different events, including air shows and veterans events.
“We basically go non-stop from when the snow melts to when the snow flies.”
He says one of his goals is to go to rural areas, where there are fewer opportunities to see a tribute like this. For many people it is an eye opening experience, and he likes to talk about why he’s doing it so they keep Canadian sacrifices at the forefront of their mind.
