REVscene Automotive Forum - Memorial Ride for the Fallen (Motorcycle & Auto)

My uncle is the lead bike for this Cruise
im thinking of joining up with my hilux to cruise with him

Do we have anyone from this site joining in?

PS- if a mod could move this to the automotive section, i think it would be better there than offtopic

Quote:

http://www.theprovince.com/3134665.bin

The "Highway of Heroes" in Ontario that honours Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan is getting a B.C. extension that will feature the unveiling of a motorcycle stunningly customized to pay tribute to fallen and still-serving troops.

But one local opponent of the war doesn't want to see other costs of the Afghanistan mission lost in the roar of the expected 1,500-plus motorcycles, cars and trucks in Saturday's "Memorial Ride for the Fallen in Afghanistan."

The ride is organized by the 3rd Canadian Army Veteran (CAV) Riding Unit, a B.C.-based group that supports veterans.

"We need to show our troops, and our fallen soldiers' families . . . that we do care for our soldiers, and we need to start showing more recognition for their efforts," said 3rd CAV organizer Peter Louvros, 45, a Canadian veteran who will ride the "Canadian Forces Titan" motorcycle, custom-painted by artist Nick Boos of Abbotsford.

Up to 3,000 motorcycles and other vehicles are expected to roll out from Trev Deeley motorcycle shop on Boundary Road in Vancouver at 9:30 a.m., then travel the Trans-Canada to Hope and on to Agassiz before winding up at the cenotaph beside the former Canadian Forces base in Chilliwack for a memorial service at 3 p.m.

Louvros hopes spectators will line up on overpasses from Vancouver to Hope.

All money raised from the $20-per-vehicle registration -- which takes place at Trev Deeley on Saturday from 7 to 9 a.m. -- will go to the Wounded Warriors Foundation to support injured Canadian soldiers and their families.

The event drew fire from anti-war activist Janine Solanki, spokeswoman for Mobilization Against War and Occupation, a group that on Wednesday held its 65th monthly picket of the Canadian Forces recruiting centre in New Westminster.

"Painting soldiers as heroes -- it's an incorrect representation," said Solanki, 23.

"I don't think that they're evil people. A lot of the soldiers that go over to Afghanistan are . . . young people who really don't know what they're getting into. They're told they're going to a war that's going to help the Afghan people, where really they're going to a war that's killing Afghan people."

Solanki believes the ride's fundraising component shows the government of Canada is failing to look after soldiers with physical and mental injuries suffered in war.

"They're saying, 'These soldiers are disposable,'" she said. "You're seeing all sorts of these charities popping up to do the work of the government."

Indeed, federal Auditor-General Sheila Fraser in 2007 rebuked the defence department for its handling of mental-health programs, and Canada's military ombudsman Mary McFadyen reported in 2008 that the department had failed to properly address soldiers' operational-stress injuries.

The government responded to McFadyen's critique by rolling out a $21-million program last year to create eight support centres to treat injured and traumatized soldiers.

This year, Canadian Forces Surgeon-General Hans Jung inked a deal to buy a $1.5-million, virtual-reality simulator to help soldiers recover from injuries and post-traumatic stress.

Still, Canadian senator, veteran and posttraumatic-stress-disorder victim Romeo Dallaire complained earlier this year that the federal government has failed to respond effectively to stress-related suicides among Canadian troops.

"Veterans Affairs and DND [Department of National Defence] don't even want to count them," Dallaire said at an Ottawa forum. ebaron@theprovince.com