While Canada’s role in the Afghanistan war continues to wind down, with troops expected to be out of the country entirely by March of 2014, the Canadian Armed Forces will be less in the news.
That’s not to say, though, that the importance of Remembrance Day ceremonies should be diminished in any way and the Outlook encourages all Bow Valley residents to take part on Nov. 11.
We’re fairly certain that Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, a shooting war as compared to the peacekeeping duties Canadians are more used to, resulted in increased numbers of attendees at Remembrance Day services in this valley and across the country.
Closer to the Korean War in scale, rather than the vast international scope of the First and Second World Wars, Afghanistan should not now be allowed to become a forgotten war as Korea came to be known.
Rather, Canadians must continue to take pride in the fact we are not a partiularly war-like people. Canadians do not throw their weight around globally, or go looking for fights. Canadians do not try to impose our will on others through force.
But, when it comes down to it, as with Afghanistan and more typical peacekeeping duties, Canadians do step up when called upon to take up arms.
We doubt the cry “Remember Afghanistan!” will ever ring out loud in this country, but the Afghanistan war should be remembered because our fellow countrymen died in a place far, far away.
Rather than let the memory of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan lapse, Canadians should remember and honour the sacrifices of our fighting troops.
We should remember, for example, the death of the first Canadian woman to die in combat, Capt. Nichola Goddard of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), in 2006. We need to remember that four PPCLI members of lost their lives in the Tarnak Farms incident when they were bombed in a friendly fire incident in 2002. We must remember the grim ramp ceremonies in Kandahar, where the bodies of Canadians from across this country were delivered by their comrades into cargo aircraft to be transferred home to their loved ones.
Finally, we need to remember the 158 Canadians killed in Afghanistan since 2001 – and have a warm thought for all those they left behind.
Going forward, Canadians have to hope that Afghanistan, a country that benefitted from the presence of our soldiers, will continue moving away from the Taliban influence that saw the rights of women and children quashed and armed rebels dictating the future of the country.
So, when the clock strikes the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month on Monday, be on-site at one of the Remembrance Day ceremonies that will take place to honour all our veterans. Remember as well that there will be Afghan veterans now back at home who will continue to suffer from the tragedies they endured.
