'TRUE CANADIAN HERO' LAID TO REST: More than a thousand pay respects to soldier killed in Afghanistan

THUNDER BAY - Cpl. Anthony Boneca, the 21-year-old reservist killed in Afghanistan, was remembered yesterday as an outgoing, loyal soldier and a "true Canadian hero" by two members of his regiment as he was buried with full military honours in his home town.

"He believed in what he was fighting for and he never gave up fighting for a country he loved until the very end," said Cpl. John O'Connor, a fellow member of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment. "That is someone who can truly be called a hero."

One thousand people packed St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown Thunder Bay and hundreds more gathered outside to pay their respects to the popular former high school quarterback.

"You would have to meet him to truly understand his style of enthusiasm," said Master Cpl. Craig Loverin. "The guy was truly hyper, over-excited at times and extremely opinionated, but he would always carry out a command without hesitation."

Cpl. Boneca's 19-year-old girlfriend, Megan DeCorte, told the congregation the two had made marriage plans while they were on a three-week trip to Italy and Greece in May. That vacation, which fell in the middle of Cpl. Boneca's second tour of duty in Afghanistan, was the last time they saw each other. He was killed in a gunfight with Taliban insurgents July 9, three weeks before he was due to return home.

"We spent a lot of time planning out our future together -- going back to school, marriage, children and travel," Ms. DeCorte said, crying. "Tony, my sweet, sweet Tony, I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I was to be a part of your life. ... I love you and I can't wait until the day we're together again."

Antonio and Shirley Boneca, who, according to friends, are overwhelmed with grief over losing their only son, sat stoically through much of the service.

At the burial, however, Mr. Boneca, a retired bricklayer, wept uncontrollably as he gave his son one final salute. Mrs. Boneca held on to her husband with both arms and rested her head on his shoulder. They were presented with the Canadian flag that draped their son's coffin, as well as his service medals from his two tours overseas, the formal regimental belt and headdress.

The soldier then received a 21-gun salute.

Mrs. Boneca was presented with a Memorial Cross, also known as the Silver Cross, on Sunday night. The award is given to all mothers and widows of fallen Canadian servicemen.

"Their lives will never be the same," family friend Miles Stijepic said Sunday. "They feel their heart is going to explode."

Mr. and Mrs. Boneca took the unusual step of allowing media to the graveside ceremony, a tacit acknowledgment that many in Canada shared their grief, military spokeswoman Lieut. Amber Bineau said.

The family, however, requested the media not seek comment.

In the wake of Cpl. Boneca's death, some close to him expressed the soldier's fears and doubts about his latest tour in Afghanistan, where the reservist was placed alongside regular forces in frontline combat positions. The friends, notably Ms. DeCorte's father, Larry, and Cpl. Boneca's uncle, William Babe, questioned his training and claimed he was disillusioned with the army.

But Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, the highest-ranking military official to attend yesterday's funeral, disagreed, saying the statements were made at a very stressful time.

"Cpl. Boneca was as prepared as anyone for the challenges that faced him in theatre. And for five months he faced them bravely," he told reporters after the service. "I've talked to the deputy commanding officer of his unit in Afghanistan. He was one of their strong soldiers. He was a guy that they relied on to do everything. He was smart, he was capable. He had been doing this kind of work for five months and it was a tragic accident that he was killed now."

Cpl. Boneca was the ninth Canadian soldier to be killed since troops shifted their attention to the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in February. He is the 17th Canadian military casualty since combat troops first entered that country in 2002.

Master Cpl. Loverin, who served with Cpl. Boneca during his first tour in the region in 2004, also challenged the belief his friend as disillusioned. "He was so proud to serve his country," he said. "He couldn't wait to go back (to Afghanistan)."

"We will never forget the sacrifice that Tony made," said Cpl. O'Connor.


PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Citizen
DATE: 2006.07.18
BYLINE: Lee Greenberg
SOURCE: The Ottawa Citizen