Christmas in Kandahar

I've been feeling very festive these last couple of weeks, and thankful for all of the good fortune that the last couple of years have delivered to me in the form of good health and happiness for myself, my friends and my loved ones.

However, as I excitedly prepare myself to head home for a much anticipated visit with my family, I wanted to take a moment to remember those who are serving abroad and do not have the same luxury this holiday season; even as they commit their time and lives to the preservation of the liberties which we and all others should have the freedom to enjoy.

I don't care to wax political about whether it's right or wrong that our soldiers are serving in Afghanistan. Instead I offer up my complete and heart-felt gratitude to them for the commitment and courage they show in the face of very troubling and often tragic circumstances.

To all of our soldiers serving abroad, I wish you all a safe holiday season and safe return home to your families as soon as your tour of duty allows.

To all of our soldiers who are home having returned from their tours of duty or those who are preparing to begin one or serving at home, thank you for your extraordinary commitment and sacrifice as well.

To the soldiers who I either know personally, or have come to know your families who miss you very much, you are all in my hearts and prayers, home or abroad, always.

In remembrance and in support of our troops this holiday season, I'd like to borrow an excerpt from an article published by CityNews on Remembrance Day in 2006, slightly modified by myself to make it current.

It includes a story of Sargent Major John Hooyer, who is the much-loved brother of one of my closest friends Nancy, and someone charged with the extremely challenging task, among others, of keeping the morale up for his battalion, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, who've suffered some of the most losses of any battalion since 2002 .

I know how very much his whole family, including a wife, two children, parents, 3 siblings and countless others (this family is extraordinarily large in size and there are a great many who hold John in their hearts), wishes him home safely and soon, but they recognize also how very important his strong leadership must be to the other soldiers he is serving with.

I believe this article is an excellent representation of our troops' courage, commitment and resolve to "Soldier On" even in the face of great loss and sadness.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_5214.aspx

It was an emotional day for Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan who paid tribute to their fallen comrades. This Remembrance Day was particularly hard considering the number of Canadian lives lost during this mission - 42 soldiers and one diplomat have died since 2002 and 34 of those troops were killed since March. (NB: 44 soldiers and one diplomat have died as of the posting of this blog.)

Many soldiers held back tears and others wept openly as they pinned poppies to a wreath before a simple wooden cross in a rainy Remembrance Day ceremony in Kandahar. Many of the soldiers were from the A Company of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, which has suffered many losses this year.

"They were like big brothers," Pte. Mackenzie Haut, 21, of Edmonton said. "I was an only child growing up in my family. In the army, the camaraderie is a lot like a brotherhood."

"It would be important to them to know that we can still be combat-effective and accomplish our missions without them. And then, when the mission's done, we can remember them and mourn in our own ways."

Sgt.-Maj. John Hooyer recited lines from "For the Fallen", written by British poet Laurence Binyon.

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

He also urged his troops to remember and honour their fallen comrades, but also to maintain their resolve.

Sgt.-Maj. John Hooyer pinning a poppy to a memorial wreath.

I wish all of our troops all the best this holiday season and that you'll all be home with your families soon.

Post Script:
Since 2002, 44 Canadian soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan. Here is a list of the those who have died in the service to their country. I wish to share my deepest condolences with their families for their respective losses and the extreme sacrifice they have endured.

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/focus/fallen/index_e.asp