It was heartfelt moment for Kendra Mellish as she helped install the metal plaque honouring her husband, Warrant Officer Frank Mellish’s, sacrifice.
On Tuesday community members, Kensington Intermediate Senior High school students and staff, and fellow veterans listened as Kendra read her husband’s autobiography, which he wrote just months before his death on Sept. 3 2006.
Frank was first exposed to the military at CFB Summerside, where his mother worked. There he was introduced to air cadets and in that squadron met his “air cadet sweetheart”. When he was 20, in December 1988 he enlisted, travelling to CFB Cornwallis and then onto CFB Petawawa for basic infantry training. The next year he was posted to the 1st battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment in CFB London. During his service, Frank was deployed to Somalia, Cyprus, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Kendra says it is important to recognize the pivotal Canadian contributions and sacrifices that have been made.
“All of us today have been given the opportunity of freedom and the chance to become citizens of the world. We have also been given the responsibility that goes with it – to ensure that we as individuals continue to exemplify truth, integrity, tolerance, knowledge and understanding – so that as a community, a country, and a world, we can move forward remembering, but not repeating, the past.”
J.D. Murray, one of the organizers of the plaque dedication said it was through the Canadian Pacific Railway that the installation became possible.
“Canadian Pacific Railway has been placing bronze plaques in Canadian schools memorializing Canadian members who lost their lives in the Afghan conflict ...
