CFB TRENTON, Ont. - At the end of a year that saw one of the heaviest death tolls of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, hundreds of people stood in the cold Tuesday silently waving flags, clutching yellow roses and some with tears slipping down their cheeks as the remains of three more soldiers killed in two separate attacks arrived back home.

Pte. Michael Freeman, 28, of Peterborough, Ont., died Friday when his armoured vehicle struck an explosive device during a security patrol. Sgt. Gregory Kruse, 40, and Warrant Officer Gaetan Roberge, 45, were killed mere hours before Freeman's flag-covered casket was loaded onto a military aircraft during a ramp ceremony in Kandahar.

In what has become an unfortunate tradition, scores of people gathered outside CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario for the repatriation of the fallen soldiers and hundreds more stood shivering on overpasses on the stretch of highway named the Highway of Heroes all the way from Trenton to Toronto, two hours apart.

The tradition has gathered considerable steam from the time when Canada first began suffering casualties in Afghanistan in 2002. Ellen McGibbon, 50, stood Tuesday on a highway overpass just outside Grafton, Ont., that she went to with her daughter when one of the first Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan was being brought home.

"Not too many people knew about it at that time and we had somebody stop and ask us if we were all right on the overpass because they weren't sure what we were doing up there," McGibbon said.

"But it's growing, you can see the support."

The supporters braving bitter cold say they hope it provides the families with some comfort in such a difficult time.

CFB Trenton has received the bodies of nine soldiers this month alone, capping off a deadly year for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Thirty-two soldiers have been killed in action this year, two more than in 2007. Canada suffered its heaviest losses in 2006 when 36 soldiers died.

For the communities of people at the CFB Trenton fence and along the overpasses they are eager to stand there and show their support, but it is with a heavy heart that they gather, and hope there won't be a next time.

"We always say, `Nice to see you. We hope we don't see you again,"' said McGibbon.

Some expressed conflicted emotions at taking in what has become a depressingly familiar scene at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario.

"I'm not supporting the war, but I am supporting the troops," said April Bishop, 52, of Trenton, Ont., who has attended most repatriation ceremonies this year.

"I will keep coming...I just hope I never have to come back here again."

In addition to people such as Bishop and McGibbon who show up each time they are able, there are always newcomers, drawn in by the simple yet touching way they can help the families.

Bill MacDonald, from Wingham, Ont., had driven under the overpasses crowded with people awaiting the motorcade before, but this time decided to join them outside Grafton. He and his wife brought their four-year-old son Rowen along, so they could teach him to support the soldiers.

"It's quite an experience," he said.

Michael Thomas, 36, from Colborne, Ont., took the day off as an iron worker and came to an overpass with St. John Ambulance, where he volunteers.

"I wanted to support my nephew, who was actually hit six months ago in Afghanistan with rocket fire," he said, tearing up at the thought of his nephew James Helpred in Winnipeg.

"It's a big thing and whether people agree with what's going on (in Afghanistan), we should all show our support."

Dignitaries such as Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk joined the families of the dead soldiers to pay their respects.

Roberge, a member of the Royal 22nd Regiment, was serving with the Irish Regiment of Canada in Sudbury, Ont.

Kruse was from 24 Field Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont. He was serving as a member of 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment battle group.

Freeman had returned to Kandahar from home leave two weeks before he was killed.

"He told us not to worry; he was not afraid of what might happen and he loved what he was doing," his parents, Mark and Gail Freeman, said in an earlier statement.