Canada History: Aug 24. 2007 – Honouring Afghanistan War Dead
Members of the Grafton 580 legion (left), firefighters and other mourners line Highway 401 and it's overpasses to pay respects to the hearses carrying the bodies of Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier and Master Corporal Christian Duchesne as they are transported to Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Source: Radio Canada International
Afghanistan was the first war where we repatriated our fallen soldiers back to Canada. During this repatriation, soldiers were taken from CFB Trenton to the coroner’s office in Toronto by way of the 401.
On August 24, 2007, after citizens had already started referring to this 170km stretch of the highway as such, it was officially accepted as and renamed the Highway of Heroes. Two weeks later, on September 7th, the official signage was unveiled.