Our fallen soldier returns home

LFCA MA 09-09 - April 25, 2009

OTTAWA – Our fallen soldier, Major Michelle Mendes, based in Ottawa, Ontario, will return home to Canada on Sunday, April 26, 2009.

Where:  8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When:   Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
What:    At the wishes of the family, media will not be permitted on the tarmac.

Present to pay their respects will be The Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk, and other dignitaries.

Major Mendes was found dead in her accommodation room, at Kandahar Airfield at approximately 4:00 p.m. Kandahar time, April 23, 2009.

An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this incident. No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out.

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One Canadian Soldier Dies in Afghanistan

CEFCOM NR–09.011 - April 24, 2009

OTTAWA– At approximately 4:00 p.m. Kandahar time, 23 April 2009, a Canadian Forces member was found dead in her accommodation room, at Kandahar Airfield. 

Deceased is Major Michelle Mendes, based in Ottawa, Ontario.

An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this incident. No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of our lost comrade. Our primary focus at this time is to provide the best possible support to the family of our soldier and to her colleagues.

The immediate family of Major Mendes has no comment at this time.  They are asking that the media respect their privacy and they will provide a statement in due course.

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