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Fallen soldier returned to Canada

Calgary reservist honoured in repatriation ceremony

Last Updated: Friday, September 28, 2007 | 1:56 PM MT

CBC News

Dignitaries, family, members of the military and ordinary Canadians gathered under cloudy skies in eastern Ontario Friday afternoon to honour the return of Cpl. Nathan Hornburg as his casket arrived from Afghanistan.

A bagpiper plays as pallbearers carry the coffin of Cpl. Nathan Hornburg at CFB Trenton, Ont., on Friday.
(Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

The 24-year-old reservist with the King's Own Calgary Regiment was killed Monday when a mortar shell struck him as he tried to fix a track that had come off a Leopard tank.

The plane carrying his body arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton at about 3 p.m. ET.

Hornburg's parents, a crowd of veterans and locals gathered outside the military base as the procession of pallbearers carried the flag-draped coffin to the waiting hearse.

Dignitaries including Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier were on hand.

Also on the tarmac was Alberta veteran Chekotah Bronson, who said he just felt compelled to come.

"I was in the area and when I heard it's an Alberta boy coming back home, and being from Alberta, I wanted to be here and participate with everybody," he said.

Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, 24, a reservist with the King’s Own Calgary regiment, was killed on Monday in Afghanistan.
(DND/Pte. Melissa Spence/Canadian Press)

Following the repatriation ceremony, Hornburg's coffin was driven to Toronto on Highway 401, along the stretch of road named the "Highway of Heroes" by the Ontario government.

An autopsy will be performed when Hornburg's body arrives in Toronto.

Hornburg's body was supposed to arrive in Canada on Thursday, but the plane carrying his body was delayed by a mechanical problem.

Hornburg is the 71st Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan. A diplomat has also died in the country since Canada's combat mission began there in 2002.

Canada has about 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, most of them stationed in the south as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

This story is now closed to commenting.

Internal Links

Fallen soldier had 'warrior's heart': family
Fallen soldier made world 'a better place'
Calgary-based soldier killed in Afghanistan
IN DEPTH: Canada in Afghanistan
IN DEPTH: Canada's casualties

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