HMCS Fredericton at the Canal

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Thursday, September 14, 2006 | Updated at 10:28 AM EDT


Salute from visiting warship 'beautiful coincidence'
John Burman
The timing was touching.

HMCS Fredericton, one of Canada's newest patrol frigates, fired a signal gun 14 times while gliding to a berth in Hamilton harbour yesterday.

The honour, a standard salute to a welcoming port, had special significance for military personnel in Hamilton.

The gun barked and smoke rolled over Fredericton's stern at 1:30 p.m. as funeral services were being held for Private Mark Graham, the first Hamilton member of Canada's Armed Forces to die in combat since the Korean War.

Graham, 33, a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, died Sept. 4 in Afghanistan's Panjwaii district where Canadian Forces are involved in major fighting with Taliban insurgents.

Graham was killed and more than 30 others wounded when U.S. aircraft accidentally opened fire on Canadians during a strafing run.

Lieutenant Commander Glenna Swing, commander of Hamilton's naval reserve division HMCS Star, said the timing of the powerful warship's salute to the city was "a beautiful coincidence."

"Everyone here today is acutely aware of Private Graham's death and his family's mourning and loss," said Swing.

"We are a big family in the military and we always mourn together." The salute, she said, would mean a lot to military people in the city and on the frigate.

HMCS Fredericton, which is a 134.2-metre-long Halifax class patrol frigate commissioned in 1994, is on a tour in support of recruiting and a partnership between the military and employers to promote support for Canada's Reserve Force.

The ship will be open to the public today, berthed next to Canada's famous Second World War destroyer HMCS Haida at the foot of Catharine Street North. Tours are available from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and visitors are asked to bring photo ID and leave their personal bags on shore.

For more information about HMCS Fredericton, go online and see www.navy.forces.gc.ca/fredericton.

jburman@thespec.com

905-526-2469
 
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