Silver Cross Families

Here at the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, we have had the honour of working with some Silver Cross families at our events. Families who lost a child at war, during a military exercise and other means. Each one serving Canada and its citizens at the time of their death.

We have met and become acquainted with many Silver Cross families since our campaign began almost five years ago. Each has a story that will make you glad you are sitting down, because the shock and sense of loss that they experience is staggering.

The Johnson family have participated in two of our events: one at Baltimore Rd. and the 401 in Cobourg in the fall of 2018 and one at Sweetheart Park in Port Hope in the fall of 2019. These plantings were their way of commemorating their son, Private Andrew Johnson, who lost his life in an accident while on his leave in South Africa during deployment to Bosnia.

Barbara, Private Johnson’s mother, is quoted as saying “I feel that the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is an outstanding undertaking. With their support, we will never forget the sacrifices of our soldiers, both past and present. I feel so very proud to be a Canadian citizen.”

The Sinclair/Loveman famiy have been following and supporting our campaign since our earliest stages. They too have participated in our plantings, joining us for a special event back in the fall of 2017 that took place at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center - home of Canada's largest Veterans care facility. Anna and her husband John drove all the way from Port Hope to Toronto to be with us that day.

Anna mentioned that her participation in our campaign has helped her cope with the loss of her son, Kyle Sinclair. It's made her proud to know that the memory of her son continues to live on through our tree tribute. Kyle was a mechanic at CFB Petawawa and was killed doing routine maintenance on a vehicle on base. Since his death, the army has “removed the steel-plated seats from all Coyotes belonging to the Canadian Forces” (source: CBC).

Anna is very generous with her time, devoting a lot of volunteer hours to the organization Canadian Heroes, yet still finds the time to also be involved with the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign.

The Collier family have been connected to our project through their participation in many of our planting events and Carol even traveled with us to Ottawa to take part in our press event at the National Press Gallery. Their participation commemorates their son, Sapper Brian Collier, who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan on July 20th, 2010.

During her address at the National Press Gallery, Carol said: “This living tribute is a perfect Canadian hug. These trees will embrace our Highway of Heroes, forever. Our Canadian flag has a Maple Leaf as our symbol. Our trees protect our Land, our lakes, our rivers, our mountains. All of the beautiful images and parts of Canada our soldiers have when they are serving our country. We owe this to them, to their families, to protect their memories, and to our future.”

The Mariner Duffield family joined us at the Farewell Creek planting event in Courtice on October 18th, 2019 and had a special plaque placed on a stone with the hand print form of their son, Major Christopher Mariner, when he was a child at the base of a tree we planted that day. It was almost 20 years to the date of the anniversary of his death when we hosted the event. Chris served in the Canadian Armed Forces for almost two decades, and was killed while abroad on a training mission.

Lyn is quoted as saying “(Chris) went along this highway 20 years ago. That was long before the Highway of Heroes happened. There was nobody on the bridges. No reception from the government or any of that. This is a tribute that he didn’t get … This is his recognition.”

To each of them, we wish to say, “Thank you”. For carrying the burden of loss for our country. Thank you for stepping forward to tell your story. And thank you for coming out to plant trees in memory of those who serve and have served our country in the Canadian military.