Petition Circulates To Rename Stretch Of 401 ‘Highway Of Heroes’

A scene that’s repeated itself all summer long played out again along a stretch of Highway 401 Wednesday when the body of Private Simon Longtin was carried to Toronto.

Thousands of Canadians waving flags stand proudly as the military vehicles carrying Canada’s casualties from Afghanistan roll by, in a show of support for their families and our nation’s mission there.

And each time another fallen solider rolls by, as two more will when the bodies of Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier and Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne, killed Wednesday return home, the crowd returns to the same spot on a bridge overlooking Highway 401, to salute the heroes and those they leave behind.

That’s the reason an online petition with thousands of signatures has surfaced and been passed along to the province’s Transportation Ministry, all to change the name of the 172-kilometre stretch of the 401 from CFB Trenton to Toronto to the “Highway of Heroes.”

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he is considering the naming request.

Dozens of fallen soldiers have passed along the route since Canada’s mission in Afghanistan began in 2002. More and more people have been waving flags and standing solemnly on highway overpasses every time one is brought home.

“The support you get from your family, your friends and the country is very important,” said Sgt. Major Mark Shannon. “You want to feel you’re doing something significant to help your fellow man.”

Some Canadians say renaming the portion of the highway will be a show of tremendous support for our troops, others argue it’s just another way of drumming up nationalism when the real efforts should be focused on bringing the troops home.

If you want to show your support for the troops, a “Red Friday Ceremony” is being held at the CNE.

Here’s what you had to say about the proposal:

I agree and have already signed the petition.

Dave Hanafin

I think that it would be a fitting tribute, both to our fallen soldiers and the soldiers that continue to fight for the freedom and safety of everyone around the world.  Canada’s peacekeeping missions are of great value to wartorn countries and exemplify Canada’s commitment to helping people all over the globe live safer and healthier lives free of oppression.

Greg Routenburg

If we cannot find ourselves to be patriotic enough to honor our fallen protectors with a simple naming of a stretch of highway then we truly are a sad nation with no sense of patriotic pride. Please, Dalton McGuinty, only the government can screw this up. It’s a no-brainer.

John Thomas

I think it is a great idea. I also think that it is unfortunate that we have to have a highway named for this purpose.

Lee MacWilliam

This is great, and well deserved. I also think we should have a monumental gate on the highway near the 401 where the “Highway of Heroes” begins and another gate where it ends. We should also have a ribbon or a sign every kilometre with a fallen soldier’s name on it. God Bless the families of the fallen, and may their brave souls rest in peace.

Cedric

Lynn Bull

I think it would be a great idea to honor our solders in this way, they have fallen for us and we should now rise for them.

Ashley Gonyea

I think it’s a horrible idea.  A proper burial is enough.  Those soldiers signed up knowing that death is a possibility and I respect that bravery that they still do it but to change a name of a highway is a total waste of money.  No one is ever going to remember those names anyways, I still call SkyDome “SkyDome” and not “Rogers Centre”, and the highway between Calgary and Edmonton is supposed to be called “Queen Elizabeth Way” but I still call it HWY 2 and so do 99% of the people who use it.

Mike Liam

Comments have been edited for space and content.