Standing Six Feet Tall

Heroes Remember

Standing Six Feet Tall

I’ve always said, you know, I think I heard it once so I like to repeat it. If you want to be a millionaire you go hang around with millionaires, if you want to be a bum, you go down and you hang out with the bums. I just want to be standing six feet tall and surrounded by goodness so I now incorporate the good in my life and I leave out the negative. I do my best, I’m not at 100% but every day I am getting a little bit better than I was the day before because I am taking all these experiences, I’m soaking them in and now I am giving back by telling where I’ve been and what I’ve done and how it is that I am trying to get to where I need to be. And at the end of the day I’ve got a little girl that loves me. And it’s probably one of the best things that I could have ever gotten back through all of my own, in all of my demise. The work that I needed to do to get to where I am now had to be done but I needed to want it and she gave me that purpose in my life. Veterans Affairs in itself has just been instrumental, the help that I receive from Veterans Affairs. It’s not on Veterans Affairs to fix the soldiers. It’s like I stated earlier the tools are there, they help you with the tools, it’s the individual that needs to want it.

Feeling grateful for the accomplishments made, Collin expresses his immense appreciation for having his daughter back in his life!

Collin Fitzgerald

Mr. Collin Fitzgerald was born in Ottawa March 14, 1979. At the age of 8, Collin’s parents encouraged him to join the Cadet Program leading him towards becoming a reservist. At the age of 17 and with the inspiration of World War Two and Korea Veterans, Collin made the decision to transfer over to Regular Force joining the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He rose to the rank of Master Corporal after his 15 years of military service. In 2000 he attended battle school in Wainwright, Alberta, then posted to Winnipeg. In September of that same year he accepted a deployment to Bosnia. In 2006, Mr. Fitzgerald attached himself to 5 Platoon B Company and deployed to Afghanistan under the regiment, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Experiencing intense combat during his time in Afghanistan, Mr. Fitzgerald was presented the Sacrifice Medal for his services and courageous acts of duty towards his fellow comrades. Upon discharge from the military, Mr. Fitzgerald suffered with PTSD and with the help of many supporters he was able to reintegrate into civilian life. He presently is highly involved in giving back to the military community and is a strong advocate for Highway of Heroes and many other service related initiatives. Mr. Fitzgerald now resides in Kingston, Ontario.