29 Repat

By Ernst Kuglin

CFB TRENTON —— Family members clutched single, red roses as they waited for the caskets
of their loved ones to reach the tarmac here Tuesday.
Moments later, the flagdraped caskets of Master-Cpl. Kristal Giesebrecht, 34, and Pte. Andrew
Miller, 21, were carried off the C-17 Globemaster by military pallbearers.
The two medics, killed Saturday, were the 149th and 150th Canadian soldiers to die in
Afghanistan.
At the request of the grieving families, media were not allowed on the tarmac to cover the
repatriation ceremony.
Both soldiers were killed Saturday when the vehicle they were travelling in struck an IED
(improvised explosive device) in the Panjwayi District, 20 km southwest of Kandahar City.
Another large crowd, estimated at more than 400, formed up outside the base perimeter fence
Tuesday to witness the arrival of the soldiers’’ bodies.
Included in the number were veterans of previous conflicts and those currently serving in the
military.
Stephanie Leischman of Pembroke, drove to the base to watch the repatriation.
She said she had known Giesebrecht for 14 years.
“Kristal was a beautiful person ... a little blond firecracker,’’’ said Leischman, standing by the
chain-link fence.
“She would help anyone and do anything for you.’’’’
Giesebrecht, a native of Wallaceburg, was a member of 1 Canadian Field Hospital. She was on
her second deployment with Task Force Kandahar Health Services Unit.
She was married to Matt Giesebrecht, a prominent businessman in the Petawawa community.
Miller, born in Sudbury, served with 2 Field Ambulance. He joined the military four years ago
and had only recently been posted to CFB Petawawa.
It was his first overseas deployment.
His funeral is set for Saturday in Sudbury.
Canterbury, Conn., resident Tom Fish, who was in Trenton visiting friends, also watched over the
proceedings.
The Vietnam-era veteran had never a seen a repatriation ceremony before.
“This is emotional. I’’m glad I was able to be here to pay respect to a brother and sister,’’’ said
Fish.
“For people to show this kind of support is wonderful.’’