Son of APTA safety exec killed in Afghanistan

SUMMERSIDE, PEI — The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association is mourning the loss of “one of its own” — the son of an association executive killed in the line of duty in a military offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, son of fleet safety director at Atlantic Tiltload Ltd. and APTA Safety Council Chair Barry Mellish, was killed in action on Labour Day weekend.

“A loss that affects one member of our community impacts on all of us collectively,” APTA wrote in a notice to members. “Frank’s death serves as a reminder to all of us of both the courage and valour our men and women in Canada’s military display and also the constant peril and fragility of life that they endure when on missions throughout the world.”

Frank, says APTA, was continuing the family tradition of serving our country. Barry served as a peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia during that period of upheaval.

Frank Mellish leaves behind wife Kendra and two sons, Matthew and Koven. In 18 years with the military this was Mellish’s seventh overseas deployment, his second to Afghanistan.

The Wake will be held at Davison Funeral Home, 7 Sunset Drive, Kensington, PEI, today, Monday, 11 Sept, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 289 Winter Street, Summerside, PEI on Tuesday, 12 Sept, at 1:00 pm.

The internment will take place at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Pleasant Valley, PEI following the funeral service.

Captain Rob Tesselaar, Mellish’s cousin, told CBC News: “(Frank) loved being a soldier. He was one of the most professional guys that I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with.