the stretch of highway 401 through northumberland county has been renamed the highway of heroes in honour of the local custom to line the highway overpasses of the 401 when another body was brought home from the war. the soldiers are flown into CFB trenton, then they get driven in a military procession to toronto to be autopsied. cobourg lies about a half hour from trenton, and without fail the local radio station reports on what time the repatriation ceremonies are being held in trenton, and what time they are expected to pass through. we went at about 2:40. we watched the road, and the calls come in to the station, with up do the minute reports on where the procession is.
we waited at the burnham street overpass with the ambulances. at ontario street were the firetrucks. the police cars were spaced evenly at each of the exits. the fleets of service vehicles attend the crowds gathered at each overpass, they turn on their lights when the first car in the procession is sighted.
as we stood on the overpass, canadian flags waving, the cars and trucks that passed honked and waved. the truckers flashed us peace signs and blew their big horns as prayers for peace.
the carpool lots filled with cars between 2:45 and 3:15, as we all made our ways to appointed places. we stood shoulder to shoulder in the freezing cold and we waited.
at about 3:25 we saw the firetrucks at the next overpass turn on their lights. the ambulances and cop cars turned theirs on, and stopped traffic. we held our flags higher, waved them faster, prayed harder. the military cars, police and then the hearse carrying Canadian Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27, drove past. he was the 75th soldier killed.

"bring the boys home" the woman next to my father whispered. she looked old enough to have remembered wishing that same wish in the second world war.

three more have been killed since, and each one will be welcomed back by the people of northumberland county, wishing for a peaceful end to their vigil at the highway of heroes.