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School takes time to remember soldier

Jim Kelly, Chronicle-Journal, 11 Nov 06

More than 1,300 students at St. Ignatius high school took part in a Remembrance Day prayer service recognizing Cpl. Anthony Boneca on Friday. (SANDI KRASOWSKI)

Anthony Joseph Boneca was a happy young man who enjoyed coming to school each day.

On the gridiron, he wore his St. Ignatius Falcons jersey with pride and carried a football around with him all day.

A Remembrance Day prayer service Friday at the high school he attended honoured Boneca, 21, who was killed in combat July 9 as well as other young men and women who died in the service of their country.

Two other Thunder Bay men, Pte. Robert Costall and Pte. Josh Klukie, were killed this year in Afghanistan.

Approximately 1,400 students filled the gymnasium to listen to the speeches, uplifting songs, prayers and tributes to the young man who had so much to live for.

Boneca’s senior No. 11 football jersey was retired by the school and the jersey as well as his graduation picture were presented to his parents Antonio and Shirley Boneca.

It was an emotional moment that left students, his parents and some soldiers who served with him in Afghanistan struggling to hold back tears.

His tearful parents hugged and shook hands with the 11 soldiers of the First Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who came to Thunder Bay from Edmonton to pay their respects to one of their own.

Principal Pino Tassone read an e-mail that Boneca sent to his former football coach Barry Quarrell just two weeks before he was killed.

“How’s life back home,” Boneca said. “Hope you and the school are doing well.

“I have one month to go and I’ll finally be home. Mr. Quarrell I want to thank you.

“If it wasn’t for you, I would have dropped out of school a long time ago,” Boneca said.

“Take care and say hi to all the teachers at the school,” the e-mail ended.

“His greatest attribute was his warm and kind personality,” Tassone said.

“We will truly miss this young man but his spirit and smile will live within St. Ignatius forever.”

A huge overhead screen in a corner of the gym showed a video with the terrible images of war, the bombings, burned out buildings and aircraft on deadly missions in some foreign country.

There were also young soldiers in the video, many the same age as Boneca, in a strange land fighting the enemy so they could make a difference in the world.

Toward the end of the video Boneca was shown in full battle gear and relaxing with friends.

The video ends with the words: In loving memory of those we have lost.

Chief Warrant Officer George Romick of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment said Boneca will always be one of his soldiers.

“I say this even though he is no longer with us any more as his spirit will live on in each one of his fellow soldiers of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment and those members of the First Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.”

The memory of the brave, young Boneca will be etched in the minds of many in this community who came in contact with the man with the warm and kind personality.

“Anthony will always leave a footprint in our hearts,” Quarrell said.