EDMONTON - Rod Templeman stood on the sunny Saturday sidewalk and tried to explain to his five-year-old niece why all the men with uniforms were marching so slowly and looked so sad.
He needn't have worried. As the comrades of Cpl. Darren Fitzpatrick carried the flag-draped coffin of Canada's latest Afghan casualty into the packed church that awaited him, Robin Peyton summed up the cause of the sorrow just fine.
"He was too young to die," she said.
"I tell her that he died defending our freedom and he gave his life to keep it so that we can enjoy sunny days like this," said Templeman.
"It was important to come out because he did give his life up for our freedom. I had to pay my respects."
Hundreds packed one of Edmonton's largest churches Saturday for Fitzpatrick's funeral in an open-hearted response to his family's decision to make the ceremony public in hopes of finding solace in the embrace of their fellow citizens.
"It's the only time the family can put a face to a person and I want to show them that I support them 100 per cent," said Robin Legere. "I have been down to the highway of heroes in Toronto many times and I know how much it means to the families when they see everybody out there."
Traffic on Edmonton's main downtown street slowed to a crawl as soldiers, police officers and firefighters marched behind the hearse, the tramp of their boots mingling with lamenting bagpipes.
As the church quickly filled, dozens watched the procession from outside the church. At times like these, said one onlooker, it's important that Canadians stick together.
"We always have to do our best so we can help the family and soldiers and our society as Canadians, together," said the man.
"We have to work together. When there's a fallen soldier, we try our best to be there and support them even if we don't know them."
Fitzpatrick, 21, died in an Edmonton hospital last weekend after being grievously wounded by an improvised explosive device March 6 during a foot patrol in Kandahar province.
He was the 141st casualty of Canada's mission in Afghanistan. A diplomat and a journalist have also been killed.
His comrades remember "Fitzie" as a straight shooter -- in all senses of the term. Not only was he a skilled soldier and exemplary marksman, he could always be counted on to call things as he saw them.
Some soldiers remembered Fitzpatrick as a bit of a jokester who loved a good laugh. Others recalled his love of the outdoors and natural friendliness.
The Fitzpatrick family has not spoken to reporters, only issuing a brief statement to say they remain "immensely proud" of Darren.
Although Fitzpatrick's funeral was held in Edmonton where he was stationed, he will be buried in his hometown of Prince George, B.C.
Many onlookers had friends or family in the military.
"I think everybody's just coming out to show their support," said Nathan Miller, whose brother marched along with the hearse.
Legere's husband is currently in Kandahar, serving with 1 Combat Engineers. For her, the sight of the grief-wracked faces of Fitzpatrick's family as the young soldier was carried gently up into St. Joseph's Basilica held a special message.
"I know, in an instant, this could be me."
