Hero’s welcome for Gallagher

Under the fading light of a late autumn afternoon, Chatham-Kent residents turned out to welcome home one of their own for the last time Friday.

The procession carrying the body of John Gallagher, a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces who died Nov. 4 while fighting ISIS in Syria, was greeted by a crowd estimated in the thousands that lined the 401 overpass at Highway 40 and into Blenheim.

Hundreds of Canadian flags lined the route to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home where Chatham-Kent Police and Fire honour guards escorted Gallagher’s remains. There was also a tribute from the Royal Canadian Legion.

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The crowd began assembling in early afternoon as onlookers braved 5C temperatures and a brisk, chill breeze out of the west. Cars lined Highway 40 north and south, as well as the onramps and westbound lanes of Highway 401.

The crowd, which had been boisterous as passing truckers honked horns and onlookers waved flags and took photos of each other, became respectfully quiet as the hearse carrying the former Canadian Armed Forces member made the turn onto the overpass.

The 32-year-old Gallagher had completed two tours of duty with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry before leaving the Canadian Forces in 2005. He left for Iraq in April and fought with the Iraqi peshmerga before crossing into Syria to join the YPG.

Bill Derbyshire and Grant Bowman of Wheatley brought a sign encouraging Canadians to wear red that they have taken to other communities in Southwestern Ontario.

“We thought that since John considered Wheatley his hometown, we wanted to be right here when he pulled off the highway,” Bowman said.

Looking around at the crowd, Bowman called the turnout “fantastic.”

Terry Addison and his wife Giselle of Tilbury had a large Canadian flag waving from the overpass.

“It’s a good thing this is our day off, or we might have had to play hooky,” Terry said.

Pat Fraser of Chatham said regardless of anyone’s feelings about the Middle East conflict, Canadians needed to show support of the sacrifice made by Gallagher.

“He died fighting for freedom, for people who need our help,” she said. “I just needed to be here to see it.”

Bill Jarvis travelled from Windsor with members of his family and friends. “Our trip was an hour long,” he said. “John Gallagher travelled thousands of kilometres to help fight terrorists.”

The convoy included dozens of vehicles displaying photos of Gallagher and bearing Kurdish flags.

Following the private ceremony in Blenheim, a public remembrance will be held in Toronto at a later date.