A Statement from the Family of Corporal Nathan Hornburg
Our Son and Brother, Nathan Hornburg, represented the best of all of us. He
represented what all
Canadians should strive to be.
As
a boy, he was happy growing up in the neighbourhood of Glamorgan in Calgary, and
was greatly
influenced by the Calgary Waldorf School philosophy of rhythm, reverence, and
ritual. But as much as
he loved growing up in Calgary, he also loved the land, and was often found
spending time with his
extended family in Nanton, Alberta, a place to which he felt deeply connected,
and in which he became
a son to a second community.
Nathan approached life with enthusiasm. As a young man, he never failed to
express a strong sense of
fair play, leadership, and curiosity. He was well respected by all who knew him,
because he was a true
friend, always finding the positive in any situation, always offering his
strength when the strength of
others was failing. In a way, he was the rock people knew they could depend on,
that we knew we
could depend on. Nathan was his father’s best friend, and the best son and
brother a person could be.
Nathan was a leader of men. He never shrunk from responsibility, no matter how
difficult the call. In a
way, that’s why he chose to join the Canadian Forces, to serve with the King’s
Own Calgary
Regiment, and in the end, to go to Afghanistan. He had a warrior’s heart, never
afraid to lead from the
front, and encourage those behind him to be brave in the face of adversity.
The fact that Nathan volunteered to go to Afghanistan, and the way in which he
did so, were
characteristic of Nathan’s approach to life, and any major decision. He
evaluated the facts, did
extensive research on the subject, looked at the decision from all angles, and
then decided using both
his heart and mind. Nathan decided to go to that country fully informed and
aware of the danger. He
went because he felt it was right, and that he could help those in need. He went
to support his fellow
troops and friends, he went because his country asked him to, and he went
because he felt, from the
bottom of his heart, that it was the right thing to do.
Before he left, Nathan told his mother that he loved his life, and regardless of
outcomes, he would have
no regrets. As a family, it would break our hearts to know that the future of
the mission in Afghanistan
may be determined by un-informed reaction and political opportunism, rather than
by the studied
measure of logic and wisdom. Nathan’s death had purpose. He made a difference.
He protected the
weak, and stood shoulder to shoulder with warriors to fight tyranny, to help
those who needed it, and
to defend the values that Canadians hold dear.
Being a soldier was only one aspect of Nathan’s life, but bravery and
thoughtfulness existed in all
aspects of his life. In the end, what Canadians need to know about Nathan is
that he was a man of
character, a man of purpose, a leader of men, a warrior, a student of the world,
and the best of all of us.
We remember him, and hope his legacy will encourage us all to be better than we
are.
Note to Editors. As a family we are now taking time to begin the process of
grieving our son, and
deciding how best to remember him. We ask that media respect our desire for
privacy over the next
few days as we receive our son home to Canada and Calgary. We are not yet sure
how we will
entertain future media inquiries, but we will let the media know in the near
future and will provide a
means of contact at that time. Finally, we would ask that people not try to send
flowers, but instead,
should they feel it appropriate, charitable donations to the Calgary Waldorf
School in Nathan’s name
would be appreciated. The school can be reached at: Calgary Waldorf School, 515
Cougar Ridge Drive
SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3H 5G9. www.calgarywaldorf.org. Thank you.
Where: North Glenmore Park, Calgary, AB
Date: Sunday June 21st, 2009
Time: See details
This charity was started by Nathan's Father.
Please visit
http://www.loopsforthetroops.ca/