Robin McCormack stands in between two Afghanistan war veterans, Cpl. Dan Scott and Sgt. Jim Collins

(GLYNN BROTHEN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS – To look at the truck Robin McCormack drives, a few words might come to mind.

Patriotic is one; two Canadian flags are mounted on each side. Artistic is another; the colours are loud, the graphics are detailed – several slogans accompany images of soldiers and army vehicles.

But when you meet Robin, the adjective is proud.

The truck, a small pickup, was owned by Robin’s son Cpl. Zachery McCormack. Robin drove it to Kamloops to showcase at the legion and to meet a member of his son’s platoon.

Zach was a 21-year-old reservist soldier from Edmonton, whose dream was to join the Canadian Forces.  Robin fondly remembers his son dressing up as an “army guy” for Halloween and was incredibly proud when he grew up to become a soldier leaving for his first tour of Afghanistan.

“It takes a special person to do that. A lot of people wouldn’t.” Robin said.

“[Zach was] always happy, always had a smile on his face,” Sgt. Jim Collins, a member of Zach’s platoon said.

Unfortunately, Zach never returned from his tour after he, along with four others, was killed when the convoy’s light armoured vehicle ran over a roadside bomb. Also killed was Calgary Herald journalist, Michelle Lang.

Zach’s truck features a Canadian Heroes themed wrap, personalized with pictures of Zach, along with his convoy mates, Sgt. George Miok, Sgt. Kirk Taylor and Pte. Garrett Chidley.

“If you read on the back of [the truck] it says ‘your courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten,’” Robin said.

“I made a promise that it’ll never be forgotten and until I die it will never be forgotten.”

After refurbishing the truck, Robin announced on the Canadian Heroes website he would drive it to Langley to meet Childley’s mother. He didn’t expect what came next.

“Within 24 hours I had 103 requests to see the truck,” Robin said. “It just blew me away.”

Although some of the requests came from as far as Ontario, Robin took his vacation time to travel from Sherwood Park, Alberta to 16 different locations to visit veterans across BC with the Victoria legislature as his end destination.

“I got people all over wanting to see it,” Robin said.

To see if the memorial truck is coming to your town or if you would like to donate to Robin’s cause, visit the Canadian Heroes website.

To contact a reporter for this story, email gbrothen@infotelnews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014