Funeral Held For Fallen Canadian Soldier
Posted July 17, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Anthony Boneca was proud to serve his country.
That was the message from the tear-soaked lips of Master Corp. Craig Lovelin, who spoke at Boneca’s funeral Monday in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ont.
“After completing that tour, he was a man … a man of courage, who, for as long as I live, will never be forgotten,” he said.
Just before Lovelin stepped away for the podium he added, “his heroic experience will carry on past my lifetime.”
The 21-year-old Boneca was just three weeks from the end of his latest tour of duty when he was killed in Afghanistan on July 9 during a sweep of the Taliban region.
Boneca had planned to return home and be with his family and girlfriend, to whom he’d given a promise ring.
A reservist with the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, Boneca was the 17th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan, providing fuel for those that criticize Canada’s continued presence in the tumultuous region.
What’s more, in the time since his death those that knew and loved the young soldier have provided conflicting views of his time in the military.
His heartbroken girlfriend, Megan DeCorte, and best friend, Dylan Bulloch, claim Boneca said he was deeply unhappy in Afghanistan and felt completely unprepared for the dangerous mission he was involved in.
On the other hand, Boneca’s father insists his son “loved being in the army” and was entirely aware of the situation he was entering into.
Either way, at his funeral Corp. Jon O’Connor told mourners Boneca believed in Canada’s role in Afghanistan.
“He believed in what he was fighting for, and he never gave up fighting for a country that he loved to the very end,” he said.
“Tony was always excited,” O’Connor added. “He asked a lot of questions and was eager to learn, which can explain why he was such a good soldier.”
