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SUMMERSIDE - It was more than just a street naming ceremony, it was a personal glimpse into the pride and the pain of a family who lost someone in war.
Federal, provincial and municipal politicians, veterans organizations and veterans themselves along with friends of the late Warrant Officer Frank Mellish gathered at the Summerside legion Friday to honour his memory by naming the city's newest street in his name.
Frank Mellish Street will be located off Roy Boates Avenue near Prince County Hospital.
He was 38 years old and an 18-year veteran of the Canadian Forces when he was killed Sept. 3, 2006, while deployed in Afghanistan.
While tributes poured in for the fallen soldier, no words were more meaningful than those spoken by his widow, Kendra.
"We both lived our young years in Summerside and attended school here," she said. "I graduated from Three Oaks and Frank later moved to Kensington and graduated from Kensington High . . .We made memories to last a lifetime and shared many dreams of our future. Little did we realize at that time how very short a lifetime can be for some."
Frank Mellish was first exposed to and bitten by the military bug when he joined the Air Cadets at the former CFB Summerside, Kendra said
"Frank loved the uniform. Not only did he love the uniform, he took great pride in wearing it. Frank was loyal, dedicated, loving and a regimental individual with the most incredible sense of humour. As I look back it was evident then at a young age that our Frank was destined to be one of Canada's finest."
She said her husband decided to make a difference in this world.
"He certainly accomplished that task," she said. "He is forever one of Canada's fallen heroes and he shares that honour now with 159 great Canadian heroes.
"Little did we know what would take place on that day just over five years ago," she recalled. "We always knew the threat was there and it was real. But we never dreamed we would lose Frank in that land so far away from home where he went without question to do our country's bidding. He defended her rights and freedoms so that our loved ones would have freedom today.
"Little did we know that today the tenth day of February 2012, we would be standing here together in this place he loved to call home as a street is dedicated in his honour on the very same day that Frank would have been celebrating his 44th birthday."
Kendra said she and her family have embarked on a long and painful journey.
"I'd like to say to you here today time is a healer of all wounds, but that would be a very misleading statement. Time has no way of healing wounds of this caliber. The wounds remain. In time the mind protecting its sanity covers them in scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone. The memories and the tears through the years still twist at our heartstrings and we move forward in life that has forever changed."
She said the dedication is special knowing years from now from children, grandchildren, veterans, Islanders and visitors alike will pause a moment and reflect on the sacrifice he made as they pass by his street.
"The year I graduated from Three Oaks Senior High in 1988, Frank penned these exquisite words in my yearbook - 'If everything grows better in red soil then our relationship is bound to be even stronger and I will owe my Island a very big debt and a small little air cadet squadron a big favour.' I think that debt is paid in full today," she said.
“I humbly ask you never forget our serving soldiers, the veterans of this great nation and remember too the families for they too have sacrificed much to ensure we retain all the rights and freedoms enjoyed yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
RIP