Family members watch the hearse door close, carrying Trooper Larry Rudd, at Canadian Forces Base Trenton May 27, 2010. (QMI Agency)

CFB TRENTON, Ont. - For the fourth time this month, tears flowed as a fallen Canadian soldier was repatriated at CFB Trenton in Ontario.

Hundreds of people lined a strip of highway running parallel to the base Thursday afternoon to pay their respects to Trooper Larry Rudd, 26.

The Canadian soldier was just three weeks into his tour when he was killed Monday in an improvised explosive device explosion during a routine security operation, about 20 kilometres southwest of Kandahar.

About 60 family members and friends from Rudd's hometown of Brantford, Ont., stood on the tarmac, many crying, as members of his unit carried the flag-draped casket to a waiting hearse.

Family members gathered behind the hearse, laying flowers on Rudd's casket as National Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Walter Natynczyk looked on.

Outside the fence, a group of students on course at CFB Trenton from the Royal Military College in Kingston stood in formation, saluting the long line of cars carrying mourners.

Their instructor, Capt. Peter Horan, has served in Afghanistan at Kandahar Air Field and Camp Mirage. He's attended dozens of ramp ceremonies, but said he has never witnessed the civilian side of a repatriation.

"It's never easy to be at these ceremonies," said Horan. "But this is more emotional because this kind of support from Canadians is so overwhelming." He said most of the students have never been to a repatriation ceremony.

"I thought it was important they be here today." Several cadets wept as the procession slowly made its way along the highway.

Inside the cars, family members and friends rolled down windows. Many were holding Canadian flags, others saluted soldiers and civilians lining the route.

Jim and Sandra Howlett, of Guelph, Ont., were driving down Highway 401 on their way to Carleton Place near Ottawa and decided to stop at CFB Trenton for the ceremony.

"We always watch the ceremonies on television and I've always wanted to witness a repatriation in person," said Sandra. "It was very emotional." Even though Sandra, whose hometown is Brantford, doesn't know the Rudd family, the latest Canadian death in Afghanistan hit home.

"I hope the family gets some emotional relief from all the people who are here today," she said.

Rudd, a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He is the 146th soldier to die during Canada's campaign in Afghanistan.