message from dion family extremely

Message from the Dion Family- "Extremely Proud of Our Son.."

Canadian Forces soldiers salute as the coffin bearing the body of

Gunner Jonathan Dion is loaded on a plane during an early morning ramp

ceremony Monday at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan.Photograph

Courtesy of: Cpl. Daniel Merrell, Department of National Defence

The family of private Jonathan Dion killed in service in Afghanistan

on December the 30th 2007, wishes to make public the following

declaration:

It is never easy for parents to lose a child. We are devastated by the

death of Jonathan who, with dignity, gave up his life serving his

country with honour and pride alongside his brothers in arms in

Afghanistan. We are extremely proud of our son and of what he

accomplished during his life including his career in the Canadian

Armed Forces. It will be his distinctive smile and his joie de vivre

which will remain in our minds as we think of him. He loved being a

soldier and loved being in the company of brothers and sisters in

arms.

Jonathan had found his rightful place in the Canadian Forces. He was

maturing rapidly and showed that he was living life to the fullest and

was developing his full potential. He was an example to all of his

family and he was a great brother. Since he passionately believed in

his mission in Afghanistan we supported him when he volunteered for

this mission. Quite recently he was telling us he would like to return

should there be a second tour.

Jonathan lived the major part of his life in the city of Gatineau. He

loved his city, his small part of the country, and his neighbourhood.

He wanted more than anything else to make a difference in the world

around him. He died doing what he loved best, to be a soldier and

serve his country.

Repatriation

Lise Marcil, mother of killed soldier Jonathan Dion, is consoled by

friends and relatives during a ceremony for her son at CFB Trenton on

Wednesday. I cannot imagine the anguish she is feeling - my heart

cries for her and Jonathan Dion's family at this time. My prayers are

with you.

The body of Gunner Jonathan Dion, a soldier from Val-d'Or, Que., who

was killed in southern Afghanistan, arrived at a military base in

southeastern Ontario on Wednesday.

A transport plane carrying Dion's body unloaded the flag-draped coffin

around 2 p.m. ET at Canadian Forces Base Trenton. Defence Minister

Peter MacKay and Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff,

joined Dion's family in a repatriation ceremony.

In a statement issued Monday, Dion's family said they were devastated

by his death.

"It will be his distinctive smile and his joie de vivre which will

remain in our minds as we think of him," said the family.

"He loved being a soldier and loved being in the company of brothers

and sisters in arms."