Leduc and Edmonton Fire Fighters Honor Fallen Solider

April 29, 2010 – Canadian soldier, Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick, is from Prince George, British Columbia. But when he paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country, his family held the services in Edmonton, Alberta, making it easier for his fellow military service men and women to attend. Both Leduc, Alberta Local 4739 and Edmonton, AB Local 209 honored the fallen soldier by hoisting large Canadian flags with their aerial trucks and staging them along the funeral procession route.

Fitzpatrick, 21, was critically injured by an improvised explosive devise while serving with his unit – the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – in Afghanistan. He was medivaced back to Canada, but died the next day.

A procession of fire fighters, police and military personnel led the way to St. Joseph’s Basicica in Edmonton where his services were held. The next day Local 4739 and Local 209 fire fighters were among those that escorted Fitzpatrick’s body to the airport to be flown to British Columbia for internment.

The fire fighters say they proudly extend the same honors to any of Canada’s soldiers lost in the line of duty and were glad to be there for Fitzpatrick and his family.