Canadian peacekeepers remembered in Calgary

Peacekeepers are injected into the heart of conflicts, tasked with keeping the peace while negotiations take place.

On Sunday, their efforts were honoured in a solemn ceremony at the Garrison Green Peacekeeper Park in Calgary.

Bag pipes played, as people gathered for the ceremony to honour those who have put their lives on the line and to those who have fallen.

This date was significant because it marks a dark anniversary for peacekeepers.

On Aug. 9, 1974, a Canadian Forces aircraft was shot down while on United Nations peacekeeping duty in Syria.

Nine Canadian peacekeepers were killed and many other lives have been lost since then, such as Cpl. Nathan Hornburg who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.

“I’m extremely proud of my son. I just cannot imagine what he went through in his final moments,” Michael Hornbug, who’s son was killed in Afghanistan, said.

Over the decades, the role of peacekeepers has changed; at times, some have been asked to fight in order to keep the peace.

“Not only are you between the two warring sides, at times you have to fight one side or the other or both to keep the peace,” Richard William Wright, a Peacekeeping Park committee member, said.

The fallen weren’t the only ones being remembered but also the veterans who served when the call came.

“We can’t afford not to look after them. It’s extremely important that they feel that what they have done in support of the Government of Canada is remembered by the people of Canada,” Wright said.