Planting a Highway of Heroes Living Tribute

A Highway of Heroes Living Tribute tree is planted outside the Passenger Terminal, 6 North Star Drive, at CFB Trenton on Nov. 6 by Col. Colin Keiver, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Commander, Neil Ellis, MP for Bay of Quinte, Lou Rinaldi, MPP for Northumberland-Quinte West, Mark Cullen, the chairman of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute, Jim Harrison, the Mayor of Quinte West, and Eben James Sr of Quinte West. – Ross Lees photo

A project to plant a tree for every Canadian soldier killed in action since confederation was launched Friday at 8 Wing CFB Trenton.

The Highway of Heroes Living Tribute project was initiated by Trees For Life, an urban tree coalition with a goal to plant 117,000 trees from CFB Trenton, the start of the Highway of Heroes, to the Coroner’s Office, at Keele Street in Toronto.

The trees are to serve as a symbolic start to the reforestation efforts of Highway 401 and a vibrant, living tribute to Canada’s fallen heroes since the First World War. The project works with Forests Ontario and Landscape Ontario. The multi-year plan will see native species – sugar maple, beech, white pine, white cedar and white spruce – planted along the busiest traffic corridor in the country.

Friday’s ceremony at the air passenger terminal at CFB Trenton with local dignitaries, including veterans, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Base Commander, Col. Colin Keiver, MP Neil Ellis and local mayors including the County’s Robert Quaiff.

“On behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces members here at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, and surely those across the country and around the world, I applaud the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute committee on this wonderful initiative,” said Col. Keiver. “We are honoured by this gesture to memorialize not only our fallen brothers and sisters from recent action, but also those that have gone before us.”