BAIE VERTE, N.L - People in a small Newfoundland community said goodbye Tuesday to a young Canadian soldier -- one of three killed in Afghanistan earlier this month by a roadside bomb.
Family, friends and military comrades filled a church in Baie Verte at midday to bid farewell to Pte. Justin Jones.
Lt. James Donovan, one of Jones's comrades at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick, said that while the service was sombre, it also celebrated Jones' life.
"Pte. Jones, in his 21 years on this earth, did a lot of living and that was well enunciated by those who spoke," Donovan said. "Justin (was) a very active, very involved player in the community of Baie Verte."
Donovan said it was standing room only at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Baie Verte, which is home to about 1,500 people.
Cpl. Thomas Hamilton and Pte. John Curwin, both of Nova Scotia, were also killed when their armoured vehicle rolled over the bomb, about 14 kilometres west of Kandahar City.
All three soldiers were members of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.
Newfoundland's lieutenant-governor, John Crosbie, issued a statement expressing his condolences to the Jones family.
"I am proud of our Canadian Armed Forces who display extraordinary courage and commitment, exemplified by the actions and service of Pte. Justin Peter Jones, to defend our country's security and that of the democratic world," Crosbie said.
"They deserve our full support."
Crosbie said it was in Canada's interest to join its NATO allies to ensure the Taliban are defeated in Afghanistan.
"They should not seize control in Afghanistan again."
He said the Taliban are opposed to democracy, women's rights and education for children, "as they have shown again in recent weeks by attacking young girls simply proceeding to school."
