Tonight's diary is in memory of a young, Canadian soldier. Her remembrance was written by Chacounne and the translation into French was done by a dear friend, Ginnie. Chacounne has a three week series going on right now concerning torture, so she could not post two at one time diaries. Please thank her for this heartbreaking diary and her hard work with the torture series.
Note: There will be another IGTNT tonight to honor an American Soldier killed in Iraq.
IGTNT - “It leaves a void that is too big.”
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, Canadian, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
The second Canadian female soldier has lost her life in Afghanistan.
In Afghanistan only 2 weeks, on her first deployment, Trooper, Karine Blais, 21, was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated under the armoured vehicle she was traveling in the Shah Wali Khot district, north of Kandahar city. Four of her fellow soldiers were injured the explosion on April 13th.
Mario Blais said his goddaughter leaves behind parents Gino and Josee, as well as a 14-year-old brother, Billy.
"She was crazy about Hugo, her partner, whom she liked to call Kermit... and about Molly, her favourite dog."
Blais also left behind her grandmother, Laurette.
The family released a statement Tuesday, in which they said they supported her work in the military.
"We are extremely saddened. ... It leaves a void that is too big,"
"Despite the terrible news of her sudden passing, Karine achieved her challenge. She wanted to be part of this adventure. She was proud to serve in Afghanistan. She often asked her mother: 'Mom, are you proud of me?'" said the family.
"Yes, we remain proud of you, despite our sadness."
Blais was with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment Battle Group -- the famed Quebec regiment nicknamed the Van Doos -- based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, near Quebec City.
Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance said of Trooper Blais, "She was an energetic soldier who gave 100 per cent to every challenge she faced," he added. "Frank and direct, she demonstrated the qualities of a future leader who was respected by all members of her squadron."
Trooper Blais is the 177 Canadian soldier to lose their life in Afghanistan.
Blais's flag-draped casket was placed on a CC-130 Hercules transport to begin the long journey back to Canada...
The solemn ramp ceremony was attended by about 2,400 allied troops under a star-filled night sky. It began with prayers and ended with a slow procession to the aircraft as a lone piper skirled a lament.
La deuxieme femme-soldat canadienne a disparu en Afganistan.
En Afganistan depuis seulement deux semaines, sa premiere fois en ce pays, Karine Blais, 21 ans, a ete tuee lors d’une attaque sur sa vehicule blindee dans la region de Shah Wali Khot, au nord de Kandahar. Quatre autres soldats avec elle ont ete blesses lors de l’accident du 13 avril.
Mario Blais a dit que sa filleule laisse derriere elle ses parents, Gino et Josee, et aussi son petit frere de 14 ans, Billy.
‘Elle a adore Hugo, son copain qu’elle a appele Kermit, et sa chienne favorite Molly.
Mlle Blais a aussi laisse sa grand’mere, Laurette.
La famille nous fait dire qu’elle soutient tres fort le service militaire de Mlle Blais.
« On est profondement tristes ; il y a chez nous un vide trop grand. Malgre la nouvelle affreuse de sa disparition, Karine a accompli son but ; elle voulait faire partie de cet aventure. Elle etait fiere de pouvoir servir en Afganistan. Elle demandait souvent a sa mere, « Es-tu fiere de moi ? » selon sa famille.
« Oui, Karine. On est fiers de toi et le restera toujours, malgre notre tristesse. »
Mlle Blais a fait partie de la 2e Batallion du celebre regiment quebecois connu comme « Van Doos » base a Valcartier, pres de la ville de Quebec.
D’apres le Brigadier-General Jonathan Vance « Blais a ete un soldat energique qui a donne 100 pour cent a chaque defi qui s’est presente a elle. Toujours honnete et franche, elle a incarne les qualites d’un leader futur respecte par tous les membres de son cadre. »
Mlle Blais est le 177e soldat canadien a perdre sa vie en Afganistan.
Le cercueil de Karine Blais a commence son long trajet chez elle sur un transport Hercule CC 130…A son arrivee, la ceremonie solonnelle a attire 2,400 soldats allies qui offraient leurs condoleances sous le ciel etoile cette nuit. Ces funerailles ont commence avec des prieres et ont ete marquees par le vol d’hommage d’un piper au meme temps.
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT) I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, and JeNoCo.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
Thank you, Timroff, for our beautiful logo.