Ramp ceremony held for fallen Canadian soldier

by albertacowpoke | July 4, 2009 at 03:33 pm

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Corporal Nick Bulger, a member of the Third Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed by a roadside bomb yesterday while traveling in a convoy with the Commander of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier General Jonathan Vance. His vehicle was just 15 metres behind General Vance.

On Saturday, about 2000 soldiers gathered at the Khandahar Airfield to pay their respects to Cpl Nick Bulger as his casket was loaded on an aircraft, in a traditional ramp ceremony. This tradition was started by Canadian troops, ironically then the 3rd Battalion Patricas as well, after the first four casualties of this war were loaded on aircraft for return to Canada.

Corporal Bulger, aged 30, was the 121st Canadian killed in this conflict.

Related Story: Canadian Soldier killed, 5 injured in roadside bomb -Khandahar

About 2,000 soldiers turned out at Kandahar Airfield on Saturday to pay their respects as the casket of Cpl. Nick Bulger was loaded onto a transport plane for the journey home to Canada.

Bulger, 30, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, was killed Friday when the convoy he was in struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan's Zhari district.

The explosion hurt five others and narrowly missed a vehicle carrying Canadian Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, commander of coalition forces in Kandahar province.

Bulger's armoured vehicle, travelling just 15 metres behind, triggered the blast, officials said.

The ramp ceremony, held in the sweltering afternoon heat, was delayed for a few minutes when a Predator, one of the unmanned drones that circle the base and do reconnaissance, crash-landed on the runway.

The ceremony was held off as weapons aboard the drone were disabled, said the CBC's James Murray, who had interviewed Bulger on Canada Day.

Murray said Bulger's comrades attending the ceremony said he made a connection with them and inspired others to do their best.