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The country is remembering one of Canada’s CF-18 Hornet pilots. A funeral was held for Captain Thomas McQueen at the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum Wednesday morning, where he was first introduced to flight. Captain McQueen was killed when his fighter jet crashed in Alberta during a training mission last month. The 29 year old had ten years of military service, with combat flight time in the Middle East for Operation Impact, which is Canada’s part in the coalition fight against ISIS. He also took part in Operation Reassurance which is part of NATO’s mission to secure Eastern Europe.
Today for the first time, his parents and siblings spoke about the tragedy they have endured. His mother Edith says their family is of deep faith and that is what keeps them going. Just three months before his death, McQueen stood next to his brother Aaron as the best man at his wedding. In just three weeks they were expected to stand side-by-side again, this time at McQueen’s wedding. Today his fiance Caitlin walked behind his coffin.
Captain McQueen developed a love for aviation at a young age and it was at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum that he nurtured that love. As a kid he attend their summer camps and in high school he had a co-op there where he would teach students. The building he affectionately called Warplane and the people in it became a second family to him. The young pilot remembered today as a man who chased his dreams, the dream of high flight.