TRENTON, ONT. - The flag-draped casket of Cpl. Jamie Murphy arrived at the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday.
INDEPTH: Afghanistan
The remains of Jamie Murphy carried from an aircraft at CFB Trenton
Under a partly cloudy sky, eight grim-faced pallbearers slowly carried the casket to a waiting hearse as guards of honour gave the body its proper salute.
Murphy's cap was also placed on the casket. His body will be taken to Toronto.
The 26-year-old Murphy, from Conception Harbour, Nfld., was killed by a suicide bomber on Tuesday while on patrol in an Iltis jeep near Kabul in Afghanistan.
Candace McCauley, partner of Jamie Murphy, is comforted by members of her family, Paul Martin stands in the back. Members of the family joined Prime Minister Paul Martin, Defence Minister David Pratt and Gen. Ray Henault, Chief of Defence Staff, in honouring the fallen soldier.
Martin and Pratt also greeted troops returning home from their tour as they descended from the plane that carried the casket. Martin was scheduled to speak later on Thursday with Murphy's mother.
"Jamie was a proud Canadian soldier who was honoured to wear his uniform," said Murphy's partner Candace McCauley, 26, in a statement.
McCauley had planned on buying a house with Murphy in Petawawa, Ont.
"His life and this tragedy has touched all lives. Above anything else, Jamie was first a son, uncle, friend and to myself a person who completed every part of my existence that was missing, to make my life whole."
A memorial service is scheduled in Pembroke at noon on Friday and a funeral is planned for Newfoundland next week.
Lieut. Jason Matthew Feyko, 30, of Peterborough, Ont., Cpl. Jeremy Gerald MacDonald, 28, of Burnt Islands, Nfld., and Cpl. Richard Michael Newman, 23, of Hartland, N.B., were also wounded in the attack.
Murphy had only five working days left before his scheduled return to Canada.
What a Pity, only 5 more days then he would come home alive.