A London soldier received a hero's welcome from family, friends and dozens of excited school children Monday morning after a grueling seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Cpl. Oscar Trachmann, 32, walked off a plane at London International Airport and into the arms of his tearful mother and girlfriend, plus a joyful crowd of shouting and jumping Grade 5/6 pupils from Holy Rosary Catholic school.
"I'm very shocked. I'm very excited. I didn't expect this," Trachmann said, crowded by reporters and children.
The class had been exchanging letters and photographs with Trachmann during his tour.
"I looked forward to reading everyone," the reservist from 4 RCR in London told the children.
The idea started with his girlfriend, Traci Boland, whose niece, Hailey Belaire, is a pupil in the class.
"Hailey has always had a special connection with Oscar," Boland said. "She wanted to keep in touch with him when he was gone."
Hailey and her classmates peppered their letters with questions about the war and life in Afghanistan.
"They (the Taliban) are making life dangerous for every person," Hailey said, explaining her support for her uncle.
The letters exchange taught the children a lot, said teacher Dana Barber.
"It gave them a better understanding of the role of Canadian soldiers and the cultural differences between the countries. It helped them to see soldiers are real people, who liked to play air guitar just like them."
