Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli, far left, Corporal Tyler Crooks, centre left, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, centre right and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes are seen in this undated DND handout photo. (DND HO)
A soldier salutes the first of four caskets to arrive at CFB Trenton during a repatriation ceremony on Monday, March 23, 2009.
CFB TRENTON, Ont. — Four hearses carrying the flag-draped coffins of the latest Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan are receiving a police escort along the Highway of Heroes.
The procession along Highway 401 from CFB Trenton to Toronto follows a repatriation ceremony at the eastern Ontario airbase during which the caskets were taken one by one from a military aircraft.
The mournful skirl of bagpipes could be heard as fellow soldiers saluted and family members embraced.
Mourners gathered at the hearses to lay flowers and grieve, some walking away in tears while clutching other supporters.
One attack last Friday killed Master Cpl. Scott Vernelli and Cpl. Tyler Crooks, who were both members of November Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.
The second attack killed Trooper Jack Bouthillier and Trooper Corey Hayes of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
All four soldiers were based at CFB Petawawa, Ont.
Vernelli and Crooks died during a foot patrol when a booby trap exploded, while Bouthillier and Hayes died when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb.
The deaths bring to 116 the number of Canadian soldiers who have died in the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.
Gov. Gen Michaelle Jean and Defence Minister Peter MacKay were among the dignitaries standing alongside the soldiers' families on the tarmac Monday.
Dozens of people gathered outside the airbase to pay their respects, waving Canadian flags, and hundreds others were expected on highway overpasses as the hearses made their way to Toronto, where autopsies will be performed.
On Saturday, more than 3,000 NATO soldiers paid tribute at a night-time ramp ceremony to honour the memories of the soldiers at Kandahar airfield.
Vernelli, 28, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is survived by his wife Marcie and six-month-old daughter Olivia.
Crooks, of Port Colborne, Ont., was killed on his 24th birthday.
Bouthillier's family in Hearst, Ont., said last week they never saw the 20-year-old's death coming and truly believed he would return home safely from his mission.
Twenty-two-year-old Hayes, of Ripples, N.B., was remembered by family and friends as a "good kid."
Monday's repatriation ceremony came amid a controversy involving comments made on a late-night talk show on Fox News. A group of pundits took turns ridiculing Canada and its reliability as an ally in fighting terrorism just before the four soldiers were killed.
The Canadian government demanded an apology for the "despicable" and "disgusting" comments.
On Monday, "Red Eye" host Greg Gutfield apologized and said his comments "may have been misunderstood" and in no way were meant to disrespect "the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military."
