The Wheatley-native who died fighting Islamic State extremists in Syria is being repatriated Friday. Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services Chief Ken Steubing says his service will also have an honour guard at the legion as part of the ceremonies.
"We have a pretty close relationship with our veteran affairs," says Steubing. "What we are doing, we feel, is showing our respect for the family's loss."
Gallagher had retired from the Canadian military before joining the fight in Syria which has led to the Canadian Heroes Foundation organizing the repatriation ceremonies. The foundation asked the Chatham-Kent fire and paramedic service to honour the loss. Stuebing felt it was the right thing to do, despite Gallagher not being part of the Canadian military at the time of his death.
"It's not atypical for us to get requests to do all kinds of events, so we need to consider each request on its own merit," says Stuebing.
The procession is currently travelling from Toronto westbound on Hwy. 401 before Chatham-Kent police lead the way from Communications Rd. to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home. A rough schedule of when the procession should arrive can be found here.
