ianstone
06-05-2010, 06:38 AM
Saturday, June 5, 2010
News (http://www.torontosun.com/news/) Canada (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/)
Brantford bids farewell to fallen soldier
By MICHELLE RUBY, QMI Agency
Last Updated: June 5, 2010 5:12am http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/?src=http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/06/04/rudd.jpg&size=248x186The casket of Trooper Larry Rudd sits in front of the Brant County War Memorial during a ceremony in downtown Brantford on Friday morning. (Brian Thompson, QMI Agency)
BRANTFORD - The week before he was deployed to Afghanistan, Larry Rudd created a little mischief at home.
He surreptitiously posted for sale signs on the front lawns of his friends and acquaintances and decorated the neighbourhood with his artwork. It was only later that he was revealed as the mysterious sidewalk chalker.
"Some days you'd wonder whether he'd ever grow up," a friend said at Rudd's funeral service on Friday. "Then, the next thing you know he's driving a tank. Who would have thought?"
Trooper Rudd, 26, of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Dragoons was fondly remembered on Friday.
The affable soldier, who spent most of his life in Brantford, died May 24 when an improvised explosive device detonated during a routine security operation just outside Kandahar City. He was only three weeks into a six-month tour in Afghanistan.
Family, friends and dignitaries packed the Beckett-Glaves Funeral Centre while about 1,000 people, among them members of the local police, fire and ambulance services, cadets, politicians and war veterans, lined the street outside.
Wide yellow ribbons and Canada flags were affixed to posts along the street where mourners stood in silence.
"It has been hard to hold back the tears," said city Coun. Richard Carpenter, the acting mayor. "I'm really proud of the people of Brantford. They came out and lined the streets and did the right thing."
At the request of the family, media was excluded from attending the funeral.
Loudspeakers broadcast the service to those outside the funeral home, and the service was also broadcast online.
Trooper Greg Shubert, Rudd's friend and roommate, was charged with the task of bringing the fallen soldier home to Brantford.
"We met in 2007 during basic training in Quebec," Shubert said at the service. "With me being five-foot-five (and Trooper Rudd more than six-foot-six) we were quite a sight. He loved to tell people he was my brother.
"His actions were truly those of a gentle giant. He was a phenomenal soldier, friend and Canadian."
After the service, Rudd's flag-draped casket was placed on a historic 25-pounder gun limber and towed by a Coyote-armoured reconnaissance vehicle of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
These were followed by about 25 RCD members, acting as pallbearers and guard, the family, and other mourners who travelled by foot the short distance to the Brant County War Memorial for a brief ceremony.
Rudd was the 146th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002.
mruby@theexpositor.com
Your Comments
1 Comment
View/Leave Comment (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/06/04/14271576.html#/news/canada/2010/06/04/pf-14271626.html)
In the setting of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember"
Tpr Jones, June 4th 2010, 10:36pm
I am an Ex 4th/7th Royal Dragoon in the UK in the 70- 80's My heart goes out to all his family and friends. An obvious loss R.I.P.
Ian Stone, June 5th 2010, 6:29am
I hope you don't mind, but this I have added just at remind us all of the Canadian deaths.
This was my sister Regiment many years ago. R.I.P.
News (http://www.torontosun.com/news/) Canada (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/)
Brantford bids farewell to fallen soldier
By MICHELLE RUBY, QMI Agency
Last Updated: June 5, 2010 5:12am http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/?src=http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/06/04/rudd.jpg&size=248x186The casket of Trooper Larry Rudd sits in front of the Brant County War Memorial during a ceremony in downtown Brantford on Friday morning. (Brian Thompson, QMI Agency)
BRANTFORD - The week before he was deployed to Afghanistan, Larry Rudd created a little mischief at home.
He surreptitiously posted for sale signs on the front lawns of his friends and acquaintances and decorated the neighbourhood with his artwork. It was only later that he was revealed as the mysterious sidewalk chalker.
"Some days you'd wonder whether he'd ever grow up," a friend said at Rudd's funeral service on Friday. "Then, the next thing you know he's driving a tank. Who would have thought?"
Trooper Rudd, 26, of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Dragoons was fondly remembered on Friday.
The affable soldier, who spent most of his life in Brantford, died May 24 when an improvised explosive device detonated during a routine security operation just outside Kandahar City. He was only three weeks into a six-month tour in Afghanistan.
Family, friends and dignitaries packed the Beckett-Glaves Funeral Centre while about 1,000 people, among them members of the local police, fire and ambulance services, cadets, politicians and war veterans, lined the street outside.
Wide yellow ribbons and Canada flags were affixed to posts along the street where mourners stood in silence.
"It has been hard to hold back the tears," said city Coun. Richard Carpenter, the acting mayor. "I'm really proud of the people of Brantford. They came out and lined the streets and did the right thing."
At the request of the family, media was excluded from attending the funeral.
Loudspeakers broadcast the service to those outside the funeral home, and the service was also broadcast online.
Trooper Greg Shubert, Rudd's friend and roommate, was charged with the task of bringing the fallen soldier home to Brantford.
"We met in 2007 during basic training in Quebec," Shubert said at the service. "With me being five-foot-five (and Trooper Rudd more than six-foot-six) we were quite a sight. He loved to tell people he was my brother.
"His actions were truly those of a gentle giant. He was a phenomenal soldier, friend and Canadian."
After the service, Rudd's flag-draped casket was placed on a historic 25-pounder gun limber and towed by a Coyote-armoured reconnaissance vehicle of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
These were followed by about 25 RCD members, acting as pallbearers and guard, the family, and other mourners who travelled by foot the short distance to the Brant County War Memorial for a brief ceremony.
Rudd was the 146th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002.
mruby@theexpositor.com
Your Comments
1 Comment
View/Leave Comment (http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/06/04/14271576.html#/news/canada/2010/06/04/pf-14271626.html)
In the setting of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember"
Tpr Jones, June 4th 2010, 10:36pm
I am an Ex 4th/7th Royal Dragoon in the UK in the 70- 80's My heart goes out to all his family and friends. An obvious loss R.I.P.
Ian Stone, June 5th 2010, 6:29am
I hope you don't mind, but this I have added just at remind us all of the Canadian deaths.
This was my sister Regiment many years ago. R.I.P.