A year after her son's body made its way down the Highway of Heroes, Valerie Carter is still overwhelmed by the response his convoy received.
"It seemed like a day where we just kept being taken aback by the response," says Carter. "We were all very numb, and there were people standing in front of fire halls, standing on corners, veterans saluting."
Back in November 2015, 32-year-old Wheatley native John Gallagher was killed while working with a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria. Later that same month, his family worked to bring his body back home.
Despite not being an official member of the military, Gallagher's body was taken down the Highway of Heroes from Toronto to Blenheim.
"I think he would have been humbled, but I also think he would have been glad to think people were becoming educated about that political situation, and about what's actually happening with the Kurdish people," adds Carter.
One year after that trek, Carter wants to thank the many involved in the convoy, including the Canadian Heroes Foundation, the North Wall Riders motorcycle group, and the local fire and police departments who facilitated the trip.
"[I saw] children with homemade signs and so many people with flags, and knowing conversations were taking place in homes to make those people come out to honour my son," says Carter.
