EDMONTON – A special ceremony was held at the Edmonton Garrison Wednesday to mark the formal end of Canada’s military campaign in Afghanistan.
Provincial officials joined their municipal and federal counterparts at the event held at Guthrie School in Lancaster Park.
“The 11th of September started like any other day,” said Conservative MP Laurie Hawn.
“I know I was at home having a cup of coffee. Within hours, we were shocked by the appalling attacks on the United States. And, as Canada has done throughout our history, we soon announced that we would stand with our allies in waging an international campaign against those who threatened peace and security.”
READ MORE: Canadian military involvement in Afghanistan formally ends
The mission in Afghanistan became the largest deployment of Canadian military since World War 2.
“We were part of one of the biggest coalitions in the history of the world, bringing together 28 NATO countries, 22 other partners, basically a quarter of the world’s countries,” said Hawn.
“There were more than 40,000 individual Canadian deployments to Afghanistan, with many members making that incredible sacrifice several times.”
“On the last major combat deployment of Edmonton troops, there were nine members who were returning to Afghanistan for their fourth tour.”
On Wednesday, the Canadian flag was taken down from NATO headquarters in Kabul, marking the end of Canada’s 12-year mission in the region. The soldiers who removed the flag were the same ones who raised the flag in Kabul when Canada’s mission in Afghanistan began.
“Progress was not always easy, and it was not always without controversy,” added Hawn.
“But today, Afghanistan is a much better place because of what Canada and Canadians did there.”
INTERACTIVE: Canada in Afghanistan – was it worth it?
Flags were lowered at the provincial legislature Wednesday morning and Edmonton City Council held a moment of silence to pay tribute to Canadian soldiers.
“For Canada, Alberta and this city, the war has been difficult.”
“Almost a third of the 158 soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan were based in Edmonton,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.
“The flags were lowered to half mast this morning to commemorate the end of the Afghan mission and to honour the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who bravely demonstrated a commitment to human rights, and a desire to create a better life for the people of Afghanistan,” he continued, after apologizing.
“I didn’t think it would overcome me like this.”
(Above: Edmonton City Council observes a moment of silence on Wednesday, March 12, 2014)
(Above: Global National’s Alberta Correspondent, Francis Silvaggio, talks about his experiences covering Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan)
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