Statement made on 17 March 2010 by Senator Rod Zimmer
Hon. Rod A.A. Zimmer:
Honourable senators, on Friday, November 20, I attended the official launch of "Pillows for Troops" in Winnipeg along with His Excellency Jawed Ludin, the Afghanistan Ambassador to Canada; Sam Katz, the Mayor of Winnipeg; and many other distinguished guests. The launch was in memory of Corporal James Hayward Arnal, the eighty-eighth fallen Canadian solider and a Winnipeg hero. At this launch, we also paid our respects to and honoured James's mother Wendy Hayward Arnal.
Pillows for Troops is a Winnipeg initiative that came together to pay tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives serving our country. The initiative was also to support troops and their families currently in Afghanistan and those who are preparing to leave for duty from Winnipeg and across Canada.
Corporal James Hayward Arnal received a pillow prior to his first tour of duty in Afghanistan from his former employer, John Lopes, President of JS Furniture and founder of Pillows for Troops. The pillow brought James comfort and a piece of home while on his first and second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Honourable senators, James wanted his fellow soldiers to be as comfortable as he was with the pillow John gave him to take on each assignment. He always left it behind when returning home so that someone else could enjoy it.
Pillows for Troops has committed to providing 5,000 pillows, one to accompany each Canadian soldier departing for Afghanistan from now to the end of 2011.
Since the initiative's inception, the goal was increased to 7,500 pillows because of the tremendous support they received. Donations can still be made and pillows can be purchased online for $5 at www.pillowsfortroops.com.
James did not return home from his second tour. He lost his life to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. James will never be forgotten; he will always be remembered as a Canadian hero.
Honourable senators, our hope is that all of our heroes return safely to the arms of their families and to the people of Canada.