Travelling Afghanistan Memorial Vigil makes stop in Halifax

HALIFAX – A memorial bearing the names and pictures of 158 people who died during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan arrived in Halifax on Wednesday as part of a cross-country tour.

The structure contains 192 plaques honouring Canadian Armed Forces personnel, a Canadian diplomat, a civilian contractor, and a Canadian journalist.

The names of 43 United States Armed Forces members who were under Canadian command during the mission are also included.

While the memorial will be open to the public, it was unveiled first to dignitaries and the families of the fallen soldiers at a special ceremony.

“The conflict in Afghanistan touched Nova Scotians deeply,” Premier Stephen McNeil said in his address to the crowd. “Your sons and daughter are remembered for their work to establish a better Afghanistan.”

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Charlotte Smith laid a wreath on behalf of all the families that lost loved ones. Her son, Pte. Nathan Smith, was among four soldiers killed by friendly fire in 2002. They were the first Canadian deaths in Afghanistan.

“It’s an honour because you’re doing it for all of them,” she said. “It is quite an honour to go up there and lay that wreath, and you think back on what really happened.”

Nathan’s father, Lloyd Smith, said the memorial will allow their son and others to “live on in perpetuity.”

“I think it’s an excellent, excellent remembrance for the boys and the men and women who gave their lives in Afghanistan,” he said.

The plaques were originally part of a cenotaph at the Kandahar Air Field. The cenotaph was built by the soldiers and it served as a reminder of their fallen comrades

Master Cpl. Joseph Morris, who served in the mission, said it was meaningful to see the memorial reach his hometown of Halifax.

“It’s more humbling to see the families. I wish them all the best that they can ever have. I can never hope to understand the sacrifice that they’ve had to make,” he said.

The memorial is open to the public at the World Trade and Convention Centre until Oct. 18.