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Heartless and senseless

June 10, 2009 18:06

It’s bad enough that families have to bear the worry and stress of sending a loved one off into the dangers of peacekeeping missions with the Canadian Forces, but mindless vandals made matters even worse for one Alliston family.

Sometime over the weekend someone stole the yellow ribbons off the trees on the front lawn of a family’s home who has just bid farewell to a brother as he headed off to Kandahar for a tour of duty.

They tied these yellow ribbons on the trees to remind themselves of their loved one who was putting himself in harm’s way for his country, our freedoms and way of life and a humanitarian effort to help others.

To the senseless vandals who stole the ribbons and slapped his family members in the face we ask, did you think of that when you stole the ribbons of hope?

To make matters worse, this same family had to endure the news of the death of the 119th Canadian soldier by a roadside bomb on Monday. That could be what pushed them over the edge and made them call their community newspaper about it.

Pte. Alexandre Peloquin, 20, died on Monday when an explosive device detonated during a foot patrol in Panjwaii District, southwest of Kandahar City. It’s the very same region where this Alliston soldier was headed.

Peloquin’s remains are being repatriated at Canadian Forces Base Trenton today (Thursday).

If these heartless vandals can’t make it to the Highway of Heroes to watch as his casket passes, perhaps they can make restitution for their thoughtless deed by returning the yellow ribbons they stole as a sign of respect for our military.

You don’t have to believe in our presence in Afghanistan to support our troops, respect doesn’t cost anything, and thoughtless acts hurt.

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