Highway of Heroes song moving listeners, benefiting soldiers
Posted By PETE FISHER
Posted 3 months ago
A song about the Highway of Heroes is catching on.
Country and western singer Ginny McIlmoyle of Cobourg first heard the song, also called Highway of Heroes, in her kitchen when the song's author Bob McQuaid of Carrying Place played and sang it.
It gave her goose bumps, she says of the words and music by her good friend and fellow musician.
"It was heartwrenching, very sad -- and very true."
She immediately asked if she could play and record the song.
"He said songs are meant to be sung" and gave her permission, McIlmoyle says.
She soon put her personal touch to the song. At the beginning, she added a verse from the Canadian national anthem.
"I think when we're all on the bridge we are very proud to be Canadian and know these folks are out their serving our country.
"Canadians are humble and we don't brag about being Canadian, but right now we should brag about being Canadian because these guys are giving the ultimate sacrifice."
The Highway of Heroes passes just beyond McIlmoyle's property at the corner of Ontario and White streets in Cobourg.
Like thousands of others, McIlmoyle has been to the bridge too many times to count, paying respects to fallen Canadian soldiers making their last journey home. After each repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton, the fallen soldiers travel along Highway 401, known as the Highway of Heroes, to Toronto for autopsy before being released to the family.
Oct. 17, McIlmoyle played the song for the 100th anniversary of the Belleville Armory.
Just singing the words is emotional, but McIlmoyle says performing in front of soldiers who just returned from Afghanistan was even more special.
The words to the song describe a fallen soldier's return to Canada and the journey along the Highway of Heroes.
"While we at home support our troops,
We pray the leaders know the truth.
When war begins Nobody wins."
A video performance of the song was filmed by Stuart Evans at the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Armories in Belleville.
The composer, McQuaid, plays bass on the video. He is himself a former member of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.
McIlmoyle's version of the song has been in circulation for only a few months. The response has been amazing from people who have heard it, she says.
"Everybody (has) wanted a copy."
McIlmoyle is in the process of "doing all the legal things" to cover the song's release. McQuaid will get his royalties and $15 out of the $20 it costs for each DVD will go directly to the hospital for returning soldiers in need of assistance.
"It's great because everybody is out there standing on the bridge wondering what we can do," McIlmoyle says.
The final last two sentences of the song, are poignant:
"Names inscribed forever on a stone When the Highway of Heroes takes them home."
The video is located on youtube.com located at www.youtube.com/user/stua r totaku#p/a/u/1/w6s-J2SSXgQ .
