Ottawa firefighters and others lined a series of overpasses on Highway 416 and 417 to form a solemn tribute to a fallen Canadian soldier who arrived in Ottawa to be buried at the National Military Cemetery on Wednesday.
"I hope it shows them that we have a respect for them and a love for them," said Capt. Trevor St. John of Ottawa Fire Services.
"It means a lot for us to have them fighting for us."
The outpouring of support was in honour of Cpl. Kenneth Chad O'Quinn, who was based out of CFB Petawawa, and was killed in a roadside bomb on March 3. Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown and Cpl. Dany Olivier Fortin were also killed in the blast.
"Anyone who is going to give up their life or life is taken away tragically looking after the citizens of a community or the global community -- if they are taken away unnecessarily or needlessly they should be shown respect," Chief Monty Malloy, an Ottawa fire protocol officer, told CTV Ottawa.
"In our life, in our brotherhood, that's what we do and we pay respect to those who are taken away prematurely."
The tribute was inspired by similar outpourings of support on overpasses along a stretch of Highway 401 from CFB Trenton to Toronto, which is now dubbed the Highway of Heroes.
In Ottawa, firefighters not only lined overpasses on Wednesday, they also stood at attention at many of the city's fire stations.
Following O'Quinn's death, military personnel at CFB Petawawa told CTV Ottawa he would be remembered as a passionate and well-respected leader who had a bright future ahead of him.
O'Quinn, who was known as 'Chad', leaves behind his parents, brother and fianc�e Naomi.
He was buried at Beechwood Cemetery Wednesday afternoon.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Pierosara
