| Notes |
- Glen était caporal ambulancier dans l'armée canadienne à la base de Petawawa, Ont. et il est décédé en afghanistan (a sauté sur une bombe artisanale en 2006),
Glen Arnold of Petawawa beloved husband of Kerry Arnold (nee Grieve) of Petawawa. Cherished father of Jessica, Katherine, Samantha, & Connor. Dearly loved son of George & Leona Arnold, McKerrow, ON. Predeceased by grandparents George Arnold Sr.,Mary Arnold, Aline (Nana) Arnold, and Aldena & Jeanne Lanthier. Dear brother of Wayne Arnold (Kim), Elliott Lake; Dean Arnold (Nancy), Chapleau; Mary-Lynn Arnold (Mark), Ottawa; and Lance Arnold, Sudbury. Dearly loved son-in-law of Earl & Betty Grieve, Waltham, QC. Brother-in-law to Derek Grieve, Waltham, QC and Mary-Beth Goyette (Denis), Chalk River. Sadly missed by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews & cousins.
Family, friends remember fallen Canadian medic
Melissa Arseniuk, CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
PETAWAWA, Ont. - Eight days after his death, friends, family and colleagues gathered Tuesday morning to mourn the loss of a Canadian solder killed in Afghanistan.
Cpl. Glen Harold Arnold, 32, was among four Canadian soldiers killed by a suicide bomber on Sept. 18 in Kafir Band, 30 kilometres west of Kandahar.
As mourners filtered into CFB Petawawa Building Y-101, pictures that illustrated Arnold's life were projected onto two screens at the front of the hall. The images showed an outgoing, fun-loving individual who enjoyed hockey and spending time with his family. Numerous military photos also depicted Arnold's dedication to his work as a medic with the 2 Field Ambulance perhaps none more so than the final images of the Airbus that brought Arnold's body home last week, and that of a single soldier dressed in desert military fatigues saluting Arnold's flag-draped casket.
During the 45-minute service, Arnold was remembered as a dedicated father and soldier.
'We can only admire the bravery and honour that Glen brought to his chosen profession,' Lt.-Col. Roger Barrett said, 'and we will never forget the sacrifice of this remarkable Canadian.'
As the memorial proceeded, Arnold's widow Kerry fought back tears as she comforted her husband's four children: step-daughter Jessica, 15, daughters Katherine and Samantha, 9 and 7, and son Conner, 13-months.
Lt.-Col. James Kile recently returned from Afghanistan and said, 'the Afghanis are tired of war,' and Arnold was both needed and appreciated in the war-torn country. He commented on Afghanistan's 'great need for (Arnold's) compassion as a human being, his skills as a medic, and his ability as a well-trained Canadian soldier.'
Arnold was 'a hero in the truest sense,' Kile recalled. 'Like most Canadians, he wanted to help. He wanted to make a difference. And he did.'
Arnold's best friend Master-Cpl. Dean Dipietro struggled to maintain his composure as noted it was almost fitting that when Arnold was killed, he died doing what he loved best: helping others.
Lance Arnold, Arnold's youngest brother, read from a letter Arnold wrote before leaving for Afghanistan. In his note, medic spoke directly to each of his children and conveyed his deep and unwavering love for his wife. Arnold asked his family to bestrong in his absence, and told the children to be patient and supportive with their mother while he was gone.
Arnold's words to his infant son Conner evoked a particularly strong emotional reaction among those in attendance.
'Conner, I hope that you never forget me, and that you will always be proud of what I do, and that you are able to understand.'
Arnold had been in the military for eight years. He completed his first mission to Afghanistan in 2003, and had been to Bosnia in 2001. He returned to Afghanistan for the second time on Aug. 12, 2006 and died 37 days later.
The blast that killed Arnold came when a man riding a bicycle detonated a suicide bomb that sent shrapnel tearing through an Afghan neighbourhood. Three other Canadian soldiers were killed in the attack while 10 were seriously injured and sent to Germany for medical treatment.
Nine Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan in September, making it the bloodiest month for Canadian troops so far.
Since the conflict began, 36 Canadian soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan.
Ottawa Citizen
|
1974 - 2006 (32 ans)
