Specially detailed Sudbury fire truck honours Canada's part in Vimy Ridge

A special fire truck will be unveiled this morning at the Remembrance Day service at the Sudbury Arena.

The vehicle has been detailed with images to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. That was a key battle for Canadian troops during the First World War.

April 9, 2017, will mark onecentury since Canadian troopsattacked the ridge and capturedit from the German army.

Historianshave called it Canada's most celebrated military victory and the birth of a nation.

Sudbury Fire Captain Phil Langissays firefighters have always felt a connection to the military.

He calls the Vimy 100 fire truck a moving billboard that will help raiseawarenessabout the great battle and Canada's part in it all.

"It's interesting to seepeople who have their own ... connection, dependingon their knowledge. Maybe they'll go and look it up, maybe they'll visit a Legion and see what as Legion has to offer."

Langis says the vehicle is an in-service fire truck which will be used during active fires. It will be a part of the New Sudbury fire station on Leon Street.

Chris Zawierzeniec is a firefighter who has been involved in the project since it was conceived 10weeks ago.

He says the $10,000 price tagfor the work of putting on the decals and then removing those images in the future has been paid for. They were able to get corporate sponsors to cover the cost of the entireproject.

"The actual cost to us as a department or taxpayers is zero dollars. Which is phenomenal."

Fire truck is a fundraiser for charity

Zawierzeniec says Greater Sudbury Fire Services will be selling poppy stickers, which can be attached to the bottom of the fire truck. Those who purchase them can leave their names or a message of thanks to veterans.

The proceeds from those sales will go towards Wounded Warriors Canada.

Zawierzeniecsays they chose that charity because of its mission statement: "To honour and support Canada's ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, First Responders and their families."

The detailed graphics will remain on the truck until Remembrance Day of next year.