In 2006 just after returning to Canada I attended the funeral service of WO Frank Mellish. He was honoured and mourned by over a 1000 people at the church and overflowing to the parking area. I did not know WO Mellish personally in fact my only link to him was that he had been my nephews Sgt in the Regiment. I was deeply moved by the service, and saddened at the loss of life to a young father.
Now if anything can be said on the positive side. His son has received the following;
Fallen soldier's son earns scholarship
By IAN ROBERTSON, QMI Agency
TORONTO - Studying in the Maritimes, a fallen Canadian soldier's son vows to honour his dad's memory with good university grades.
And Matthew Mellish has U of T students to thank for financing him at the University of New Brunswick with their first scholarship from the Canadian Hero Fund.
Warrant Officer Frank Mellish was killed in 2006 by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
"My dad did seven tours of duty prior to my 14th birthday," Matthew said in a statement delivered Wednesday by fund executive director Michael Ball.
"I saw less and less of who he was as he came back from each tour," but his son knew the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment warrant officer loved his country "and felt a strong sense of duty to protect it and his family.
"I am so proud of his military service and all that he did for our family and for our country during the short time we shared together," wrote the aspiring soldier and first-year student.
Higher education was important to his dad, who was based in Petawawa.
He told his wife Kendra Mellish "if anything ever happens to me, make sure you send the boys to good schools," their son wrote.
Matthew said his mom worked hard to keep her two sons focused, "which makes me determined to make her and my dad proud by fulfilling their wishes."
The $10,000 scholarship covered tuition and books, "relieving me from some stress," he wrote, adding the fund "represents a means for others to compensate in a small way for the cost we ... paid by losing a loved one for our country.
"It's a tough road ahead but I feel blessed," Matthew wrote of his dad, in a message written about 1,300 kilometres away and read by Ball in a hushed hall at St. Hilda's College at U of T's downtown campus.
Ball said Mellish sought the first scholarship.
He said more applicants will apply after two television ads launch the charity's new "11 for 11" fundraiser.
The Canadian Hero Fund website is www.herofund.ca. Donate online at 11for11.ca.
ian.robertson@sunmedia.ca
A nice story and I wish this young man all the best in his future.
Here on PEI the Red Rally in support of troops will be held next Friday. Teachers please take your students, Legions and other Veterans associations, please attend. These Red Rallies are only conducted twice a year on PEI and they are important, to see people sparing an hour or so to Show Support.
The Rally held in June in Stratford was a disgrace as far as supporters, with less than 30 people being in attendance. Charlene McInnis and her team of Volunteers work hard to present these Rallies.
Let’s see a Tsunami of Red Shirts, caps etc in support of our soldiers and their families the members of Canada’s Invisible Army. Surely this Island can muster up a huge cheering crowd, one Friday Lunch hour. The poster is attached on PDf.
This link is from Eric at DVA HQ:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article-eng.asp?id=6541
This link is a long one BUT if you do not read and heed , You may never understand the Jihadist Threat to Westerners: Sent to me by Rex from Alberta. Thanks amigo.
I also attach Khadrs statement of apology, to me these are simply words fed to him by a bleeding heart lawyer, I am Glad that Our Foreign Affarirs Minister Cannon has confirmed that Currently there are NO deals in place between Canada and the US Government.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/10/28/omar-khadr-sentencing-hearing.html?ref=rss
So as the Legion hits the streets today, lets buy a poppy or two, it is their primary source of Legion Funding on a National Front. The Legion does a lot for communities and Veterans across Canada.
Support our troops, and give a thought to their families in Canada’s Invisible Army.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
