Fallen Windsor, Ont., soldier honoured by B.C. plumbing company
Corp. Andrew Grenon among three soldiers recognized on free water tanks from Wade Roberts Plumbing
More than a decade after Corp. Andrew Grenon was killed in Afghanistan, the Windsor native's name is being kept alive on hot water tanks in the homes of veterans in Victoria, B.C.
"It warms my heart. It solidifies what I'm trying to do by getting people [across] the world, in all shapes and sizes, to remember what our veterans have done for us," Theresa Charbonneau, Grenon's mother, told Windsor Morning.
Grenon was a 23-year-old soldier who was killed while serving in Afghanistan. He was attacked in an ambush while doing a security patrol, and he died on Sept. 3, 2008.
Two other Canadian soldiers were also killed that day — Corp. Mike Seggie and Private Chad Horn.
Grenon was the only Windsorite to be killed in Afghanistan. At the time of his death, he was on his second tour of duty in the country and had already been injured twice.
He's been honoured several times in the city, including by an arena pad at the WFCU Centre, a city-run multi-sport complex and the home of the Windsor Spitfires.
Now, he's being honoured in Western Canada through an effort to provide free water tanks to military veterans.
"I've been on three installations myself, and every time people are over the moon and so thankful for me," said Wade Roberts, owner of Wade Roberts Plumbing. "I'm glad we're able to make a difference."
Giving back to veterans
The idea was born four years ago when Roberts's company created a task force to brainstorm ways they could give back to the community.
"We are a company and a family that likes to make a difference in the world around us and give back in some way," he said.
A team member brought up a TV spot she'd seen from an American company that was giving free roofs to veterans. Zachary Jilg, one of the company's lead plumbers and gas fitters at the time, then mentioned the story of his fallen friend Horn and his fellow combatants, Seggie and Grenon.
That sparked the team into action.
"We came up with the idea of giving free tanks to veterans to say thank you to our veteran," Roberts said. "We decided to do three tanks that year in memory of these three young soldiers."
Each tank has a gold plaque on it dedicated to one of the three soldiers. The plaque has their picture, their name, their military position and their age at the time of death.
Roberts's company worked with their wholesaler and Green Canada, a water heater maker, to put this gesture together. Among the first recipients of the free water tank was WW II veteran Private Jack Milner.
They've since done this two more times for a total of nine special water tanks — three of which have Grenon's name on them.
I can't think of a better method of keeping the memory alive.-Theresa Charbonneau
The company is doing it again this year. On Remembrance Day, the team will draw names for five free tanks out of a pool of around 75 nominated veterans.
Roberts said the gesture has meant the world to the veterans they've worked with, especially because they don't often get this kind of recognition from their communities.
"We are quite clear on what we feel and believe about the sacrifices that people have made and continue to make, and we want to be able to say thank you," he said.
He's also glad to do it while honouring those who have been killed in the line of duty.
"Military families, often they feel the brunt of people that work in the military, whether it's the fact that they're away on deployments for long periods of time or when people do lose their lives," he said.
For Charbonneau, this kind of tribute is one of the best ways to honour her son.
"That this tribute can be done in such a practical, tangible way that it not only helps remember our fallen, it helps the living veterans — I can't think of a better method of keeping the memory alive," she said.
"It's serving a purpose and it's remembering. It's an honour."
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