Afghanistan Memorial Vigil
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are marking more than a decade of service in Afghanistan.
In 2001, the Government of Canada began a defining chapter in Canadian history by joining international efforts to build an Afghanistan that is no longer a safe haven for terrorists, is better governed, more peaceful, and more secure.
The Memorial Vigil
One of the ways the DND/CAF are commemorating the service of Canadian personnel is through an Afghanistan Memorial Vigil. The Memorial Vigil contains 190 plaques representing 201 fallen: 158 CAF members, one Canadian diplomat, one Canadian civilian contractor, one Canadian journalist and 40 United States Armed Forces members who were under Canadian command.
With approximately 900 CAF members currently deployed in Afghanistan as part of Operation ATTENTION, important contributions continue to be made. The Vigil commemorates the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of CAF members during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, and recognizes the support of military families, friends, and all Canadian
The Afghanistan Memorial Vigil is currently located at National Defence Headquarters and available to family members of the fallen by contacting Captain Indira Thackorie.
The Vigil will once again be open to the public in the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill from 4 to 17 November 2013. Viewing hours at the Hall of Honour can be found here.
At a later date, it will travel across Canada to a variety of cities and Canadian Forces Bases to ensure all families of our fallen and Canadians have the opportunity to view it. It will also travel to Washington, D.C.
By the end of Canada’s current training mission in Afghanistan in March 2014, the CAF will have been in Afghanistan about the same length of time as the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War combined. Once the last CAF troops have come home, the Government of Canada, including the DND/CAF, will take additional steps to recognize and commemorate all of the work and sacrifices Canadians have made in Afghanistan.
The Canadian Armed Forces military engagement in Afghanistan
More than 39 000 Canadian Armed Forces members have served in an Afghanistan theatre of operations or in support of the Afghanistan mission from other locations around the world. The Canadian Armed Forces:
- searched for terrorists in Afghanistan’s mountains and caves alongside U.S. forces (2002);
- increased security around Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul while ensuring the safety of its residents (2003-2005);
- formed part of a Canadian “whole of government” team that supported development and governance projects in the southern province of Kandahar, to improve the life of Afghans (2005-2011);
- trained and mentored the Afghan National Security Forces (2005-2014);
- lived among the Afghan people to provide security so that development work could begin (2006-2008); and
- were recognized by NATO for their leadership role at the Kandahar Airfield Medical unit in establishing, supporting, and commanding the NATO Multinational Role 3 Medical Unit, the first ever NATO multinational field hospital in combat operations (2006-2011).
Canada's whole-of-government mission in Afghanistan
The security provided by the Canadian Armed Forces greatly facilitated the work of other departments and agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada; Public Safety; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Canadian civilian police departments; Correctional Services Canada; and the Canada Border Services Agency. In partnership with the Afghan Government, the Afghan people, and other nations, Canada helped:
- create better trained, better educated and more professional Afghan national security forces;
- improve access to education – school attendance is up nearly eight-fold since 2001, with a nearly 40% increase in attendance by Afghan girls;
- improve healthcare – maternal mortality has decreased by about two-thirds over the last ten years;
- strengthen the rule of law and human rights for Afghans, including for women and children;
- improve infrastructure, roads and irrigation systems; and
- provide skills development and job creation, contributing to improved economic growth.
Links
Department of National Defence
Government of Canada
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