SASKATOON -- Citizens hung Canadian flags over a highway overpass and lined the route as the funeral procession for a soldier killed in Afghanistan wound its way through Saskatoon yesterday.
Lt. Justin Boyes was killed Oct. 28 in an explosion while he was leading a foot patrol southwest of Kandahar City. It came only 10 days into the 26-year-old infantryman's second tour of duty in the country.
Among those who came out to pay honour to the young soldier was George Cook, a 90-year-old veteran of the Second World War.
"I wanted to see a young man put to rest," explained Cook, who sat in his wheelchair with a blanket over his lap to ward off the chill air. "It's just hard to let your son go into the battlefield when you know he might come home like this."
Scott Walls choked back tears and watched as a group of Royal Canadian Air Cadets, including his daughter, saluted when the hearse drove by.
SAD DAY
"I just figured it was the thing to do," he said. "Honour (Boyes) for our freedom. That's about all I can say."
Randy Dombowski, who stood beside Walls, said it was a sad day.
"It's the least that we can do to come out and pay our respects for someone that was willing to fight for our freedoms around the world." said Dombowski. "It's not a big sacrifice for us to be here."
Boyes, who was married with a three-year-old son, was based in Edmonton with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Alanna Boyes described her husband was a selfless, loving, courageous man who was a wonderful father.
Recently he told her he was worried some Canadians are undermining the military's efforts.
"Justin and I believe in the mission in Afghanistan," she has said.
Boyes was the 132nd Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. A few days later, Sapper Steven Marshall was also killed.