The body of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan was returned to CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario for a repatriation ceremony Friday afternoon.
Cpl. Nathan Hornburg died in Afghanistan Monday while trying to repair the track on a Canadian Leopard tank while under fire.
Hornburg, a 24-year-old reservist with the King's Own Calgary Regiment, is the 71st Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.
His parents, Linda and Michael, were there at CFB Trenton to greet the plane carrying the casket.
Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier were among the dignitaries who, along with about 100 military personnel, gathered on the tarmac to pay their respects.
Hornburg's body was due to come home Thursday, but a mechanical problem with the plane used to repatriate fallen soldiers prompted a one-day delay.
After the ceremony, a military cavalcade transported Hornburg's body to Toronto, where an autopsy will be performed.
As part of the solemn homecoming for Canada's fallen soldiers, Canadians have gathered on highway overpasses that dot the stretch of Highway 401 between Trenton and Toronto. That was the case once again Friday.
Hornburg became the first Afghanistan casualty to officially travel the Highway of Heroes since the stretch of Highway 401 was renamed by the Ontario government.
"It's pretty meaningful for everybody, this isn't something the government organizes, this is something the people do," said Finance Minister Jim Flaherty who was among the several people gathered on one overpass.
Honrburg grew up in Calgary, joining the reserves in high school. He studied history and anthropology before deciding to join the military full time, eventually requesting that he be sent to Afghanistan.
Hornburg spoke to 愛污传媒 in July, just weeks before his deployment to Afghanistan. He said his family was nervous about him going to Afghanistan, but that he felt it was time to go.
