ONE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY ... AND A MISSION TO KEEP HER SON'S LEGACY ALIVE
- Maureen Eykelenboom
- Jan 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 16
Maureen Eykelenboom lives in Courtney, a small town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
From an early age, she envisioned a Pollyanna life for herself. That vision began to unfold as she married, raised three boys, volunteered and developed a successful career in Volunteer Management.
But the Pollyanna vision vanished August 11, 2006, the day her youngest son Andrew, in Afghanistan as a medic with the Canadian Armed Forces, was killed by a 17 year old suicide bomber.
Andrew was 23 years old.
I had never heard of Maureen until Gifty Serbeh-Dunn, friend and contributor, suggested that Maureen’s story would interest Island Gals readers.
I met Maureen at a presentation she gave at Monterey Middle School about Boomer’s Legacy, the charitable foundation she created to help our soldiers help others. Maureen captivated a class of young teenagers with Andrew’s story, stoically telling of his service to his country, his heroism and the sacrifice of his life.
Over coffee, Maureen shared her Andrew with me: a handsome young man, all of 23, who wanted to help people, serve his country and be proud of his accomplishments.
Andrew was a boisterous youngster, full of life, spirit and energy, and sometimes a little mischief. He was that kid who actually did pull the fire alarm in school. Maureen often wondered what she was going to do with the boy!
As a young man, Andrew decided he wanted to make a difference. Initially planning to be a fireman, he changed direction, enlisted and became a medic.
In February 2006, Andrew (nicknamed Boomer by his comrades) left for Afghanistan. His mother’s worry was countered by his letters, filled with pride at being able to assist where there was need and his commitment to service. Pictures revealed the difficult conditions he and his fellow soldiers endured.
In a phone call, Andrew said, “Mom, people in Canada have no idea of what having nothing means. Even our street people have more than anyone in the village I was just in.”
Known to his military comrades as "Boomer," Andrew's role as a medic in the military was to provide medical care to anyone who needed it; from his own comrades and Afghan soldiers, to the innocent children caught in the crossfire of war. Boomer's appreciation of, and respect for human life was evident to everyone whose life he touched with his compassion and generosity.
Andrew asked his mother to send baseballs so the children would have something to play with, or sugarless treats to enjoy, keeping in mind that they had no access to dental care.
Andrew cared, and so did the people who cared for him. Two days after his death, friends of Maureen’s wanted to contribute to his legacy. Pamela Jolin knit the first cap to send to Afghanistan to keep a child warm and the Boomer Cap Project was born.
Flying to Trenton, Ontario to receive Andrew’s body, Maureen decided she needed to be part of a solution and not an apathetic bystander. With her family’s support, she founded Boomer’s Legacy, the foundation that helps our soldiers provide compassionate care to those they encounter while deployed.
To date, more than 127,500 caps have been knitted and sent around the world, and over $600,000 has been raised for our soldiers to spend on helping Afghanis in need.
The money has provided lifesaving surgery to children who otherwise would die, educated midwives, bought books, school supplies and warm clothes, and funded countless donations to people who have nothing.
Boomer’s Ride, an annual bike trek from Comox to Victoria, was established to raise funds and awareness for Boomer’s Legacy. Chief Warrant Officer Todd McGowan was the lone rider in 2007. He inspired Deb Koster to gather more participants, and in 2011 , more than 90 cyclists will rode. General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of Defense Staff, joined the cyclists for the first leg, and Surgeon General Hans Jung was there to support them as they embarked on their journey.
Maureen once said to me that connecting the dots is possible, and together, we actually can make a difference.
Strangers become friends and dots are connected, all because of a young man who wanted to do some good for strangers he met on duty, and the mother who made it her duty to continue his mission.
Mom, I finally got the picture you have been waiting for. About two weeks ago a little girl brought her infant sister to the UMS while I was on duty. She had 2nd degree burns on her hand from touching a kettle. I bandaged her hand and after gave a doll that your friend made, to her. She instantly stopped crying and started sucking on the nose of the doll. A special thanks goes from her older sister to your friend for such a wonderful gift; and a thanks from me for being the one to accept her gratitude.
Making the children happy is the most rewarding thing about this tour.
Love, Andrew
By Maureen Eykelenboom (as told to Johanna Socha)
First Published in Island Gals Magazine . 2011 . Volume 1 . Issue 2
