April 2007
After much thought, I must object to the re-naming of the Trenton-Toronto section of Highway 401 as the Highway of Heroes. I am a former member of the Canadian Navy, so this is not an anti-military stance, but I do think we are throwing around the word “heroïc” a little too much these days.
Just because someone joins the military and goes off into a hostile zone doesn’t automatically make them a hero; brave and dedicated certainly, but not necessarily a hero. Just because someone dies in a hostile zone, it doesn’t automatically make them a hero either. The same thing could be said about police officers who die in the line of duty. It doesn’t mean these men and women weren’t brave, noble, honorable or worthy of praise, but we do need to acknowledge there is a difference. Letï’s just save the word “heroïc” for those who truly perform heroic acts. Perhaps something like “The Veterans Memorial Highway” would be a more appropriate name for Highway 401.
