ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Hundreds of people lined the streets and hundreds more packed the local armoury on Saturday to remember a wonderful family man and "great brave soldier" who died in Afghanistan serving freedom and his country and keeping Canadians safe.

Warrant Officer Dennis Brown, 38, a volunteer, was one of three Canadian soldiers killed in a road-side blast in the strife-torn country on March 3.

In a message read to about 850 mourners as he stood by, tears streaming down his face, Brown's 12-year-old son Mackenzie praised his father a "great, brave man" who went far away to fight for freedom.

"I would run a thousand miles just to see his face or hear his voice one more time," Mackenzie said.

"I keep thinking that I'm in a dream, this isn't real, and I think `Why did he have to die?' It isn't fair."

Brown's Maple Leaf-draped casket arrived on a gun-carriage at the armoury, home to the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, as soldiers and sympathizers lined the sun-drenched street outside.

Some waved flags as they stood watching.

Among them was Joe Zettler, who came to pay respects to a man who "gave his life for us."

Zettler said he felt it especially important he be there "with what's going on there (in Afghanistan) right now and the number of soldiers that are falling."

Killed with Brown northwest of Kandahar City were Cpl. Chad O'Quinn and Dany Fortin.

At a funeral at CFB Gagetown, N.B., on Saturday, O'Quinn was remembered as a free spirit and the perfect soldier.

In all, 112 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since Canada's mission there began in 2002.

Brown's widow, Mishelle, said she felt lost and overwhelmed by the loss of her "hero" and she implored Canadians to support their military and the mission in Afghanistan.

"As you sit at the dinner table with your family every night enjoying large portions of food without worrying that your house may be blown up by rockets, it's because of soldiers like my husband," Brown said.

"As you walk freely down the streets without fear of a car bomb exploding, ripping the hand of a loved one out of yours, it's because of soldiers like my husband."

Family and friends said Brown, who served as a police special constable in civilian life from 2001 in charge of prisoner escorts, was always fascinated with the army.

He joining the reserve unit as a "raw" 18-year-old and began excelling at things military.

In a service that was webcast so soldiers in Afghanistan and an overflow crowd at a nearby church could watch and listen, Lt.-Col. Matt Richardson, head of Brown's regiment, praised the fallen soldier as an "instant leader."

"He would not want us to remember him as a victim of war," Richardson said. "He would want us to remember him as a soldier."

Among dignitaries on hand was Brig.-Gen. John Collin, head of the Canadian army in Ontario.

Best friend, Warrant Officer Steve Ward, said Brown is not really gone because he will not be forgotten.

"Hard times are upon us but we will hold our heads up high; we will soldier on," Ward said.

"We will remember him, not for ourselves, but for our country."

Brown's casket was taken to a nearby cemetery following a journey past his home for a burial service that included a bugler and an artillery salute.

Besides Mackenzie, Brown is survived by sons Owen, 9, and Benjamin, 7, as well as his wife's daughter, Jenna, 12, and his parents Ed and Sadie Brown.