Highway of tributes to Island captain who died in helicopter crash
Crowds along procession route honour Kevin Hagen, one of six who died in helicopter crash. He was remembered as Armed Forces captain, musician and a ‘great, great kid.’
People waving Canadian flags and signs lined the motorcade route Saturday afternoon to show their respects to one of the six Canadian Armed Forces members killed in a military helicopter crash in April.
The remains of Capt. Kevin Hagen, 30, who was born in Nanaimo and attended high school in the capital region, were carried in a motorcade with a police escort from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Victoria International Airport to McCall Gardens in Royal Oak.
Once there, members of a 443 Squadron honour guard, led by a lone piper, carried the body inside.
Kyle Hagen expressed gratitude to those involved in bringing his brother home.
“It means a lot to have Kevin back on the West Coast and we’re very thankful for how supportive and accommodating the military and McCall Gardens has been with our family,” he said via Facebook.
Lynne Gibson said she had a dual reason for coming out for the procession: “Because I’m Canadian, and my dad was a World War Two vet.”
Lorne Holland, who served 33 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, said he felt he had to watch the motorcade and show his respects. “You just can’t get by the brotherhood, to honour somebody who’s lost his life in the service,” he said. “I felt strongly about coming out so I can give him a salute as he goes by.”
Brian and Deb Severinsen, who were waiting outside McCall Gardens, said their son, James, and Hagen attended cadets together. James was a member of the honour guard.
“Great, great kid,” Deb Severinsen said of Hagen. “And his brother, his whole family.”
Hagen’s death is “a big loss,” she said.
Brad Hartley, who was carrying a picture of a heart as he waited for the motorcade, taught Hagen chemistry at Lambrick Park Secondary. Hagen graduated from the school in 2007.
“He was awesome.” Hartley said. “You could tell he was a bright kid and he did terrifically.”
Hagen is also remembered at Lambrick Park as an accomplished musician, a member of the honour roll and a good citizen,
Elaine Sexsmith, whose husband, Ryan, is the commanding officer at 443 Squadron, was at the entrance to McCall Gardens.
“When we have somebody who’s fallen we take it very seriously,” she said. “It is like losing a family member.”
The crash happened April 29 during a training exercise as the helicopter was returning to HMCS Fredericton. The Cyclone was deployed aboard the Halifax-class frigate as part of a NATO mission patrolling the Mediterranean and Black seas.
The remains of four of the other Forces members killed in the crash arrived in Nova Scotia on Thursday.
The remains of Capt. Brenden MacDonald, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin and Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins were taken to Dartmouth, while Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke’s remains were taken to Truro.
A funeral procession for SubLt. Abbigail Cowbrough, originally from Toronto, was held May 11 in the Halifax area.