By W. BRICE MCVICAR, SUN MEDIA

CFB TRENTON -- About 150 people lined up along the fence at CFB Trenton yesterday to watch the repatriation of Corp. Etienne Gonthier, the 78th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan.

Many of those standing along the fence didn't even know the name of the soldier whose return had prompted them to gather, but all said they were there to show support for Gonthier's family.

Diane Langabeer of Picton placed a small Canadian flag on a chain-link fence separating the public from the field.

The flag, she explained, belonged to a friend's father who was a war veteran.

"The 150 people in attendance hopefully shows the family that Canadians do care," Langabeer said.

Lise Belanger, of Trenton, said she too wanted the family to know their loss is recognized by others.

"He didn't die for nothing. He died for his country, for liberty and peace," she said.

Gonthier, 21, who is from the Quebec City area, was on his first foreign mission and was due to return in March. He had just been promoted to corporal when he was killed Jan. 23 by a roadside bomb.