[溫哥華本地新聞] Defence minister marks Remembrance Day in Afghanistan with troops era, compound, minister, soldiers, country

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Defence minister marks Remembrance Day in Afghanistan with troops

Defence Minister Peter MacKay joined Canadian and U.S. troops at Kandahar Airfield early Friday morning for Canada's final Remembrance Day ceremony in the war-torn part of the country, marking what MacKay called "the end of an era."

More than 100 Canadian and U.S. troops stood silently by the cenotaph in the Canadian compound as MacKay slowly read the names of soldiers who have died during the decade-long mission in Afghanistan.

As each name was called, families members of soldiers placed poppies at the black marble plaques on which the names and images of the fallen were etched.

Cpl. Kelly James laid a poppy next to the name of her brother, Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren, who was killed in Afghanistan in December 2008.

Meanwhile, mothers Karen Megeney and Mabel Girouard also lay poppies on their sons' plaques. Megeney's son, Cpl. Ronald Kevin, was killed in March 2007 and Girouard's son, Chief Warrant Officer Robert Michel Joseph, died a few months earlier in November 2006.

"As we gather here today, our hearts are full of memories of those who have served in the wars and conflicts of our times," Padre Maj. Harold King said in a prayer.

"We come to remember those who fell in battle, and those who offered their bodies, minds, hearts and energies in fighting for a better world," he said.

The flags in the area were lowered to half-staff and six wreaths were laid to honour the 158 Canadian soldiers killed during the mission, which officially ended this summer.

The sound of jet engines and helicopters could be heard overhead as the soldiers stood solemnly while two people sang O Canada.

For two minutes, no one said a word. The silence was broken by a piper who played bagpipes that were briefly drowned out by incoming fighter jets.

As a soldier recited the poem In Flanders Fields, another whispered the words just paces away.

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"Today was a very poignant, respectful demonstration on behalf of Canadians for the enormous respect we have for the service and sacrifice of Canadian troops here in Kandahar," MacKay told reporters following the ceremony.


"This is the end of an era. This is a mission transition now that has seen the end of combat and has seen much sacrifice on behalf of Canadians in this mission, but much to celebrate in terms of the accomplishments: more schools and education, more health, more security and a chance for a better future in Afghanistan is what has been accomplished and what continues to be accomplished by Canadians and our allies and by Afghans," MacKay said.


MacKay told reporters that the memorial, with the names of each fallen soldier, will be moved to Ottawa "very quickly."


"We want to properly protect this monument, these names, these faces etched in granite . . . there is concern over the elements here (in Kandahar), concern that it could perhaps possibly be neglected or damaged, so we want to bring it back to Canada," he said.


The cenotaph will be accessible to the public and to family members, MacKay said.


He said the Afghan war was, for many Canadians, this "generation's conflict" that was fought by troops as young as 19 years old. He said Canadians may have learned more about the world through the country's participation in the mission.


"I suspect that five or 10 years ago, very few Canadians could have located Afghanistan on a map. And now, it is a country that Canadians have come to know, come to feel a sense of pride for what has been accomplished here, and to understand the sting of loss and sacrifice that accompanies a mission such as this," he said.



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Canada's defence minister joined Canadian and American troops in Kandahar Airfield early Friday morning to mark Canada's final Remembrance Day ceremony in the region