Tight-knit community mourns its fallen fighter pilot
HALDIMAND COUNTY — Residents of Fisherville gathered Sunday afternoon to grieve the loss of their friend and neighbour.
Capt. Thomas McQueen, who grew up on a farm in the small hamlet, died last week after his CF-18 fighter jet went down on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border during a routine training mission. An investigation is trying to uncover what went wrong.
About 60 people gathered for a short service and a blustery walk along the 4th Concession to the McQueen family farm. The procession was led by a piper and a colour guard.
The service, which included hymns, prayers and poetry, was held in front of a makeshift sign reading “Tx THOMAS,” which a neighbour erected on a flatbed truck across from the McQueen farm.
Rev. Barry Yager, a former chaplain at CFB Cold Lake — the base where McQueen was stationed — delivered a eulogy praising McQueen’s sacrifice and highlighting the importance of coming together in grief.
“That’s what community is — nobody gets left out,” Yager said. “When someone gets hurt, we all hurt. We all help. When somebody rejoices and celebrates, we all rejoice and celebrate. That’s what brings us together, and that’s what brings us strength and hope.”
Community members, many of whom brought Canadian flags to wave, laid flowers at the memorial and pinned poppies to a wreath laid in front of the memorial sign. The service ended with a rendition of “O Canada.”
McQueen’s parents, Tom and Edith, were unable to attend the vigil, as they are in Alberta with their son’s remains. McQueen also leaves behind two sisters, a brother, and a fiancée.
John Trebych, who lives four houses down the road from the McQueen farm, was one of the memorial’s organizers. He said when neighbours learned the identity of the soldier killed last week, they immediately began thinking about how to support his family.
Fisherville is a tight-knit community, he said.
“We’re grieving, too. I think if the McQueens were here and they knew what we had done in memory of Thomas, I know that they’d be smiling with gladness that we’re behind them.”
Trebych said neighbours have been collecting donations they intend to use for park benches or trees — “something in his memory.”