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Father of dead Canadian soldier supports white poppy

By staff writers
November 10, 2006

Father of dead Canadian soldier supports white poppy

-10/11/06

The father of Canadaís only female soldier killed in Afghanistan, has said that he would be happy for his daughter to be remembered through the white poppy.

Tim Goddardís daughter, Capt. Nichola Goddard, is the highest ranking Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan. She died in fighting in May.

In an interview for Canadian Television, her father, Tim Goddard, who grew up in Britain, said that Remembrance Day had always been marked in the Goddard family.

Relatives had fought all the way back to the battle of the Somme in WW1.

Recognising that red poppies only call for remembrance of those soldiers who died on one side of war, Mr Goddard said that Remembrance Day should be about remembering others who died too.

Mr Goddard said he remembered the white poppies while growing up in Britain and felt that they have their place on Remembrance Day.

His comments come at a time when the legitimacy of White Poppies is being debated both in Britain and in Canada.

ìIn Afghanistan, in many other conflict zones its not just soldiers who are killed, itís not just Canadians who are killedî he told Canadian TV.

ìI think that the white poppy symbolising peace and symbolising memories of civilian losses, thatís fine.î

Goddard and his wife Sally will lay a reith during Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour their daughter.

The young artillery officer was killed directing fire at enemy positions near the front lines in the Afghan desert and was the 16th of 42 Canadian soldiers who have died in the conflict.

According to Canadaís Chronicle Herald, since her death, ìTim Goddard has emerged as an eloquent spokesman for other families grappling with both grief and pride.î

Goddard has chastised Prime Minister Stephen Harper for restricting media access to grieving families, and expressed hope for an end to the Afghan conflict so that Nicholaís death will not have been in vain.

"This time, obviously weíre remembering Nichola and the other 41 soldiers weíve lost in Afghanistan, the one weíve lost in Lebanon this summer. Peacekeepers or peacemakers, theyíre all worthy of our respect" he told Canadaís Chronicle Herald.

You can see the video clip here

Father of dead Canadian soldier supports white poppy

-10/11/06

The father of Canadaís only female soldier killed in Afghanistan, has said that he would be happy for his daughter to be remembered through the white poppy.

Tim Goddardís daughter, Capt. Nichola Goddard, is the highest ranking Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan. She died in fighting in May.

In an interview for Canadian Television, her father, Tim Goddard, who grew up in Britain, said that Remembrance Day had always been marked in the Goddard family.

Relatives had fought all the way back to the battle of the Somme in WW1.

Recognising that red poppies only call for remembrance of those soldiers who died on one side of war, Mr Goddard said that Remembrance Day should be about remembering others who died too.

Mr Goddard said he remembered the white poppies while growing up in Britain and felt that they have their place on Remembrance Day.

His comments come at a time when the legitimacy of White Poppies is being debated both in Britain and in Canada.

ìIn Afghanistan, in many other conflict zones its not just soldiers who are killed, itís not just Canadians who are killedî he told Canadian TV.

ìI think that the white poppy symbolising peace and symbolising memories of civilian losses, thatís fine.î

Goddard and his wife Sally will lay a reith during Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour their daughter.

The young artillery officer was killed directing fire at enemy positions near the front lines in the Afghan desert and was the 16th of 42 Canadian soldiers who have died in the conflict.

According to Canadaís Chronicle Herald, since her death, ìTim Goddard has emerged as an eloquent spokesman for other families grappling with both grief and pride.î

Goddard has chastised Prime Minister Stephen Harper for restricting media access to grieving families, and expressed hope for an end to the Afghan conflict so that Nicholaís death will not have been in vain.

"This time, obviously weíre remembering Nichola and the other 41 soldiers weíve lost in Afghanistan, the one weíve lost in Lebanon this summer. Peacekeepers or peacemakers, theyíre all worthy of our respect" he told Canadaís Chronicle Herald.

You can see the video clip here

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