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A Three Helicopter Tribute to a Canadian Fallen Soldier

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | July 18, 2009 at 05:45 pm

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Two Canadian soldiers died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan this month. Today 450 friends and colleagues came to pay their respect to Cpl Martin Joanette.

The mourners gathered at a chapel at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, just outside Quebec City to pay their respects to Cpl Joanette. MCpl Audet's funeral was just held a few days earlier.

The two soldiers died as a result of a helicopter crash on take off in Zabul Province in Afghanistan.

Three helicopters paid a tribute overhead, to the fallen paratrooper, just as his flag draped coffin was being placed on the hearst.

CFB VALCARTIER, Que. -- Some 450 friends and colleagues came to pay their respects to Cpl. Martin Joannette, one of two Canadian soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan this month.

They gathered Saturday in a chapel at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, where only days before the funeral for Master Cpl. Pat Audet was held.

Joannette died alongside Master Corporal Pat Audet, 38, when their helicopter crashed on takeoff in Zabul province.

At the end of the ceremony, just as Joannette's flag-draped coffin was placed in the waiting hearse, three military helicopters flew overhead as a tribute to the fallen paratrooper.

During the private ceremony, Warrant Officer Dominic April, who knew Joannette, underscored the 25-year-old's persistent nature.

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elvisjj

at 19:02 on July 18th, 2009

This is a sad story but a story I'm glad you wrote and put into the headline. Our soldiers are dying for a cause, let's just hope that cause is worth all the death that has been happening.

May the two Canadian soldiers who died in the helicopter crash rest in peace and we will never forget you.