To mark the end of Canada's 12-year military mission to Afghanistan, Sundre institutions joined others across the nation March 12, in commemorating the lowering of the Canadian flag in Kabul.
Flags at provincial buildings, municipal offices, and schools -- including the Town of Sundre and River Valley School -- were lowered to half-mast that morning.
At noon, flags were raised to full height to commemorate the end of the Afghanistan mission and the successful return of the last of the Canadian troops.
“Canada's brave men and women in uniform are also our fathers, mothers, daughters and sons. The work our troops did in Afghanistan is an absolutely vital part of our history and something all students should learn about. We need to honour our soldiers and their families on this mission's final day,” said Alberta Premier Alison Redford in a press release.
This year's graduating high school class was in kindergarten when Albertans first left on the Afghanistan mission, noted Jeff Johnson, Alberta minister of education and ministerial liaison to the Canadian Armed Forces.
“And March 12 gives us a rare opportunity for students to watch history unfold in their classrooms while exploring ideas about leadership, community, sacrifice, citizenship and ethics.”
The Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan held a ceremony March 12 while lowering the Canadian flag.
The Canadian flag was lowered at NATO's International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul for the last time March 12.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper marked the occasion by making a statement.
“Since 2001, Canada has deployed its largest military contingent in generations to the region, and now our mission in Afghanistan draws to a close. The end of the military mission and the lowering of the flag is a significant milestone in the fight against global terror. Over 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members have fought to defeat the threat of terrorism and to ensure the freedom of others, to build a stronger, safer world. In the course of this fight, many have paid the ultimate price,” Harper said.
More than 40,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces served on this mission, of whom more than 155 were killed.
The last contingent of Canada's Armed Forces is to return home on the final flight from Afghanistan on March 18.
- Smaldon
