It was a day of high-flying fun and remembrance in Ajax, Ont., as an array of brightly coloured kites soared through the sky over Rotary Park to pay tribute to veterans who served in Afghanistan.

The warm sun and breeze off Lake Ontario made for perfect kite-flying conditions for the event, which took place Aug. 28. As Legion, family and community members watched, children from the town’s Summer Blowout Camp expressed their thanks to Canada’s servicemen and women by flying kites, some store-bought and others crafted from paper bags and streamers.

The initial idea for the aerial tribute came from Ajax resident and retired schoolteacher Cathy Hollis, who had a certain Canadian veteran in mind. “I remember reading about Master Corporal Byron Greff’s death in the Toronto Star,” explained Hollis, a member of Ajax Branch. “He had made a comment to his mom saying, ‘When I look out in Afghanistan and see the children flying kites, I know they feel safe and that we made a difference,’ because the Taliban prohibited kite flying.”

Greff, the last Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan, was killed in a suicide bomb attack aboard an armoured bus as he was crossing Kabul on Oct. 29, 2011. Greff, 28, left behind his wife Lindsay, his six-year-old son Kellar, and newborn baby, Brielle.

After reading the story in 2011, Greff’s story stuck with Hollis. “You can imagine how I felt when I opened Legion Magazine and read the article on Byron Greff’s death,” said Hollis (Byron Greff’s Wedding Ring, September/October). “I saw that Lindsay is still hurting very much and thought it was important her children know their dad made a difference.”

It was during her daily morning run through Veteran’s Point Gardens along the Ajax waterfront that she was struck with the idea. Hollis contacted town councillor and fellow Legion member, Pat Brown, and community recreation co-ordinator for Ajax, Amanda Bedwell, and the tribute began to take to the sky. First Vice-President of Ajax Branch Dave Wylie and President of the Toronto Kite Fliers Walter Corsetti also participated in the day’s event.

To help the children understand the significance of kite flying and what it means to Afghani children, Hollis equated it to hockey in Canada. The children also read a book that told the story about a young Pakistani boy who flew and chased kites.

Along with crafting kites that, to the delight of the children, soared high behind them as they ran through the park, they also created a special gift. Two large kites were adorned with painted handprints in turquoise, fuchsia, yellow and lime green that highlighted the phrase, “Freedom is the kite’s response to the wind.” The decorated kites were mailed to Byron’s mother, Candy Greff, who lives in Lacombe, Alta., and who greatly appreciated the tribute.

Another work of art was also created to remember the day. Ajax artist and veteran Patrick Waite created a painting called Freedom Fields that depicts a young veteran handing a kite with a Canadian flag design to two children.

In remembrance of the recent deaths of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, 53, killed in a hit-and-run attack in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, 24, shot while standing ceremonial guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, the Toronto Kite Fliers and other Southern Ontario kite clubs held a Canadian Forces Tribute Kite Fly in Bayfront Park in Hamilton, Ont. (Cirillo’s home town), on Oct. 26.