We here in PEI know Laurie Greenslade as the tireless mother who produces Red Ribbons in memory of her son and others lost in Afghanistan. This despicable act should not go unpunished. Be strong Laura and Don as we are praying for the return of David's items.
SAINT JOHN - Laurie and Donnie Greenslade couldn't protect their son David when he was in Afghanistan, but they thought they could protect him here. On Monday, they found that even here, their son wasn't safe.
Matthew Sherwood/Telegraph-Journal
Don and Laurie Greenslade at the grave of their son, Pte. David Robert Greenslade. A Task Force Afghanistan coin and other mementoes were stolen from the grave over the weekend. Things that have stayed here for two years are now gone, Mrs. Greenslade said.
Pte. David Greenslade died on April 8, 2007. It was Easter Sunday and the 20-year-old and five other soldiers died when a roadside bomb exploded as they drove through a maze of irrigation ditches in Afghanistan.
David Greenslade a Proud RCR....RIP
He was buried in Fernhill Cemetery on the city's east side. Underneath a headstone etched with a picture of David flashing his trademark grin, his dog Colby beside him, was a simple, silver-coloured coin, placed in a simple army-green pouch, and hanging from two red ribbons and a piece of wire.
Laurie Greenslade said the coin was brought back from Afghanistan by a friend and fellow soldier and left on David's grave. The coin memorialized the soldiers' tour of duty with a map and the words Task Force Afghanistan on it.
There's no value to it, Laurie Greenslade said.
I guess, to me, he was murdered over there, we bring him back to a safe place and then somebody robs his grave.
It's like as his parents, you couldn't protect him from his death, but you can't even protect his belongings at a gravesite. It's like nothing is sacred.
Donnie Greenslade said he thinks whomever stole the medal also threw a glass jar full of red ribbons all over the ground and took a golf ball that belonged to his son - both were placed by his headstone.
He loved golf so much, Donnie Greenslade said.
I looked all around.
Still, he couldn't find any sign of the golf ball, just the scattered red ribbons strewn on the grass.
Unbelievable that anybody would do this, he said.
Laurie Greenslade quickly became the face of every Canadian mother who lost a child in Afghanistan. She was stoic and rarely shed a tear as she organized red rallies and turned out thousands of red ribbons in support of Canadian soldiers.
But this, she said, is the final crushing blow. Each day has brought more tears.
The fact that they stole right from under Dave and Colby's nose, to me it's the final slap. As parents you like to protect them and Donnie feels we've let Dave down.
In what has become typical for Laurie Greenslade since losing her only child she isn't just thinking about David.
I would hope that people realize that these people buried there belong to people, she said, her voice slowly cracking. People care for them and tend to their graves and leave special things there and it should be a place where nobody touches anything that's left there.
Rose McPhee's son died at the tender age of 16 playing a choking game, a dangerous game played by teens in which one chokes the other until they almost pass out. Her son loved model cars and not long after placing one at his grave, someone stole it from the headstone at the Greenwood Cemetery.
Her husband Danny regularly visits David Greenslade' grave as a sign of respect.
This young man died for his country, McPhee said. To me, it would be like losing him all over again.
No one in Canada has the right to disrespect the grave of a soldier or any other gravesite....SHAME on YOU
My Next Rant is about the so called Honour Killing in Kingston Ont. This Afghan man and parts of his family have been charged with Killing Wife number one and three daughters. Why do people who come to Canada to seek a new life, destroy it with disgraceful conduct. Whether in the name of Religion or the name of Culture. When you come to Canada to enjoy its freedoms leave your archaic beliefs at home. May God / Allah punish you severly for your act of horror. This is not why NATO and indeed Canada is fighting to free Afghanistan from the oppressive taliban cowards.
NATO tests laser device to detect roadside bombs:
This is great news for our troops. We at NATO have just started testing what, in essence, is a laser that can detect explosives ahead of a vehicle so that we can try to be better at protecting against that (violence), NATO spokesperson James Appathurai told CTV News Channel in an interview from Brussels.
NATO has revealed it's testing a new device to help detect roadside bombs -- those so called improvised explosive devices that have caused such carnage for Canadian and other foreign troops. The photo is of Canadian Troops testing the laser devices.
So as our troops face another week in taliban country we wish them Success and Safety in all they do. Please show your support to our brave men and women of the armed forces. Wear RED on Friday
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
