The body of the Nova Scotia-based sailor killed in Afghanistan is now on provincial soil.
Shearwater-based diver Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake was killed by a makeshift bomb May 3, the very type of device he was in the country to defuse.
Blake, a 37-year-old from Simcoe, Ont., is the first Canadian sailor to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. Blake was a member of Maritime Forces Atlantic Fleet Diving Unit. His body was brought back to Canada May 5, and late yesterday, his remains landed at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Some of his colleagues from the unit were in attendance. From there, Blake’s body was led by a police escort and was followed by about 25 veterans on motorcycles to Stadacona Chapel at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. A navy spokeswoman said a military memorial service for Blake is being planned for later this week in HRM, but no details were finalized.
