The city will unveil the Private Andrew Miller Ambulance Station Nov. 15.
The Chelmsford ambulance station is being renamed in honour of the slain medic, who was killed when he and other soldiers were travelling to help an Afghan family who had found a bomb strapped to their door. While on the way, the armoured vehicle he was in struck an improvised explosive device. He was 21.
City council voted unanimously on Sept. 25 to rename the facility. Mayor Marianne Matichuk will be in attendance along with friends and members of Pte. Miller’s family.
Dignitaries attending will include Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault, Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, as well as representatives from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
Miller went to St. Charles College, where he “demonstrated a keen interest in both the army and helping others,” according to a report filed to city council Sept. 25. “His room was decorated with camouflage netting, Canadian Forces recruiting posters and he created his own first aid kits using household products.”
His father, Raymond Ealdama, a sergeant with Greater Sudbury Police Services, served in Afghanistan in 2008 as part of the Greater Sudbury Police Services’ contribution to the Canadian Civilian Police training contingent in Kandahar City.
At age 17, Miller enlisted in the Canadian Forces as a medical technician, with aspirations of becoming a combat field medic.