I call it: ‘The Red Ride,’ it’s more formally known as the ‘Repatriation Memorial Drive and Rally.’ It takes place on the Highway of Heroes route from Centennial Park in Trenton, Ontario to CFB Downsview in Toronto.

I signed up for it back in the winter not really knowing anything more than it was a ride designed to show support for our troops in Afghanistan and to honour the families who’s members have paid the ultimate price for our Canadian peacekeeping values and the monumental improvements the troops have made under completely impossible circumstances. There is, and always will be a ton of questions about the politics of our mission in Afghanistan but right, wrong or indifferent, this was simply a ride to show our support for the guys and gals in the Canadian Forces, and what a show it turned out to be!

The day started off with weather conditions that had me wondering if I’d need a boat to get to my bike, but to me this was a true rain, snow or shine event. If our soldiers can handle what they see and do everyday, then we here at home ought to be able to shuffle through some crappy weather. However, like something divine, the clouds cleared, out popped one hot sun and I found myself shedding layers of clothing like a stripper on a mission.

I was there just a tad before 09:30 and I was number 1313. The First Cavalry Riders were getting things organized and given that this was a mix of cages and bikes (with bikes in the majority) there was just about everything imaginable dressed in red and sporting Canadian flags. I joined the first group heading out so I could get down to Downsview do a quick turn around and then photo the ride from the opposite direction. I wasn’t disappointed, bridges over the Highway of Heroes were lined end to end with Joe’s and Jane’s, just like you and me, waving Canadian flags and cheering on the ride. Legion colour parties were on the ramps, Fire Department apparatus and EMT rigs parked on bridges with all their lights flashing.

I stopped on the Simcoe Street Bridge in Oshawa, grabbed some shots and asked the one question I thought most important: Why are you here? All the answers were all much the same and it left me with a huge lump in my throat. The answer: When we lose a soldier, a family somewhere in Canada tragically loses a son or daughter, but they are all collectively our sons and daughters and if this is the way we can show our support for the families and put some closure or sense of meaning to losing one of our own then so be it. I rode back onto the 401 feeling so very proud to be Canadian and an unexplainable lump in my throat.

Afterwards I wanted to spend some time with the organizer, Brian Muntz, who started with a little idea and watched it explode into something that was covered by the international press and had its share of challenges.

 

MMM: Out of all the things one could do, what made you decide to do this?

Brian Muntz: I came up with the idea of having a ride from Trenton to Toronto to retrace the steps a fallen soldier takes when they are repatriated to Canada along the Highway of Heroes. I saw this as an opportunity to commemorate our fallen in Afghanistan, to continue my drive for public awareness, to show support for our men and women who serve this country past and present, and to take the opportunity to raise money for charity, specifically for our veterans, our forgotten ones.

 

MMM: How many volunteers did it take to put it all together? Anyone you want to mention specifically for kudos and why.

Brian Muntz: Volunteers came on different levels. Some were in a professional capacity such as the three police jurisdictions; the OPP, Durham and Toronto police services.

The Canadian Army Veterans MC stepped up as volunteers and filled the position as event marshals as no one else could have.

There were two specific volunteers that dedicated a lot of their time to organizing this Rally. Brian Wilkins and Brandon Arnold. Brandon is a young man that was born and raised in a military town that has been exposed to the work of our service men and women. I met Brian Wilkins through a letter he dropped off in my mailbox wanting to know more about the Rally. Brian is a very articulate person and had an obvious sensitive spot for our troops serving in Afghanistan as he himself served in Afghanistan on the Kandahar airfield as a civilian truck driver. Brian Wilkins is a very well-spoken supporter of our troops and holds a volunteer position as spokesperson for Red Fridays Foundation of Canada. Finally, my biggest kudos goes to my wife Patsy.

 

MMM: The whole idea of this ride may (must) have been difficult to paint a picture of during the planning stages. What was your biggest challenge and what was your most memorable success?

Brian Muntz: The biggest challenge was trying to explain in one or two sentences the many activities that were expected on that day – involving two cities, two hundred kilometres of highway and the two rallies in public space.

My biggest success from this rally was watching the families of the fallen who met each other for the very first time share their experiences with each other that only they could understand. If nothing else, knowing these families had some closure from this event was enough for us. The families have thanked us for the opportunity to see the supporters on the bridges and the other participants in the Drive, without seeing a hearse in front of them.

 

MMM: What was the reaction of the survivor families—good and bad?

Brian Muntz: The one thing that really shocked me for these families was the fact that the DND had backed away support from them so quickly. Some family members even stated to me that an occasional phone call from the DND would be welcomed. The families all have the same desire upon their hearts that day and that is that their loved ones not be forgotten. The members of the military, who did show up, were not in uniform.

 

MMM: The whole “Red Ride” concept is emotionally charged; it encompasses many questions, political, ethical, etc. Sit in any Timmies and listen and you’ll find the list is as long as your arm, some of it valid and some of it so far off the bell curve it’s just a waste of air. Give me an idea of the gamut you ran. How and what did you deal with? Paint me a picture of your side of the fence.

Brian Muntz: When misinformation was set into motion by the media, people very quickly lost the focus of what this rally was truly about. Being raised by Dutch parents who were liberated by the Canadian Forces never allowed me to forget what this country has done for my family. I wanted to share with Canada what I have learned from my parents.

I personally think that with this very first and successful Rally, our Rally next year will be more widely accepted for what it is. Our goals will not change as we intend to remain focused on support for our troops and our veterans. No doubt this is an emotional subject when dealing with the fallen as this Rally paid tribute to those who have fallen and to the families of the fallen. There are a lot of emotions attached. There have been a lot of political issues raised on our activities in Afghanistan and I have tried to be as non-partisan as I can about these issues. We emphasize that this is not for or against war, policies or political parties, but for what the Canadian Forces do around the world. That is the focus on peace, humanity and protecting our sovereignty.

 

MMM: Ugly stuff… There have been some accusations made against you alleging that a profit was taken and that the charity was incorrect. Your response?

Brian Muntz: I have nothing more than my word to offer to the public that this is not a venture for personal financial gain. With the success of this rally and a $12,000 donation to the Canadian Hearing Society, it is a clear demonstration with respect to my intentions. Although this rally is an emotionally charged event and has gained its critics, I am not the only private company that has raised money for charity. While it is true that the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada is not a registered charity, we are moving in that direction. Canadian history demonstrates during hardships, and the World Wars, many private citizens and companies took to raising awareness and financial support for charities. Perhaps rather than criticizing us for what we are doing, this should be an example for other companies and citizens. I had my share of negative emails and media but I question those critics—what have you done to stand up and demonstrate your support?

 

MMM: Numbers—How many cars, bikes, trucks, people made the ride? Give me an idea of the demographics of the ride?

Brian Muntz: There were 522 motorcycles and 109 cars that had registered for the rally. There were many more that just attended the rally without a registration and went down the trek of the Highway of Heroes. The exact numbers are not known. I also take note of Walsh Transportation who provided a bus for the families of the fallen, Larry Josie with his Poppy Truck, Toronto Fire Department fire trucks and approximately 20 historical military vehicles who also joined in this memorial drive, in addition to the various police department vehicles along the way. With certainty, the highest in participation are the motorcycle riders.

 

MMM: There must have been one or two people that really stuck out, both good and bad.

Brian Muntz: The people who stick out in mind are the very good. For example, Staff Sgt. Scott Lawson, Inspector Earl Johns of the OPP, Mayor Williams of the city of Quinte West, and Phil Richmond from the Royal Canadian Legion – District D stand out mostly in my mind for sticking with us through the thick and thin leading up to this rally. One particular supporter by the name of Arlene Coleman, from Fenelon Falls, stands out the most in my mind as a person who supported this rally from its first inception. Her heart-filled emails gave me the motivation when at times I thought the Rally and Ride would not have happened.

I would rather not name specific people who targeted our rally to make it into a negative event. I think the good that happened in our event far outweighs the bad.

 

MMM: Here’s your spot to go nuts… Now that you’ve got one successful ride under your belt, what would you like to say to the volunteers, the participants, the Vets, the Canadian Forces and the general public?

Brian Muntz: To the hundreds of volunteers that encompass three major police departments, many fire departments, city officials, the Canadian Army Veterans motorcycle club and other event coordinators from Trenton – Centennial Park and Toronto Downsview Park, and to all the public and the participants I wish to thank them for believing in this rally. Their contributions are what made this event possible. I am hopeful that the Canadian Forces will be at next year’s rally to give the public the opportunity to say thank you one on one. The mission of Red Fridays Foundation of Canada is advocating to “wear Red on Fridays” to demonstrate a non-partisan support for our Canadian Forces past and present. I am not aware of any other country that can state “never beaten – always free” as we can as Canadians.

 

Way to go Brian. I’ll be the first to say that this kind of demonstration of support will have the positive and the negative, simply because of the nature of the beast, let’s face it, there are no right answers to a situation that is unfathomable from our viewpoint of normalcy. Grass roots support is what it’s all about and it’s something that all Canadians can be proud of. In the end Brian’s efforts showed that support and as an offshoot put an outstanding contribution of $12,000.00 into the coffers of the Canadian Hearing Society who are so often called to help Vet’s get the hearing aids to hear the simple pleasures of life again.

The last weekend in May… I’ll see you in Centennial Park and let’s show the world, our troops and the families who have lost their most precious that we are truly proud Canadians.