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The Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-10-05, Page 7Wednesday, October 5, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 7 Huron County Afghan war monument unveiled Darryl Coote Editor War monuments bring home and make real the sto- ries of those who fought overseas in Canada's name, said Elizabeth Dowdeswell. The lieutenant governor of Ontario took part in the Oct. 1 dedication ceremony for a monument honouring Canadian soldiers who fought in Afghanistan in Goderich. Dowdeswell told the hun- dreds of people who had assembled, despite the threat of rain Saturday after- noon, that the military vehi- cle placed upon a cairn of boulders by the museum is more than a symbol --- it's a piece of history. "Most of us have seen the light armed vehicles on the news being driven by our soldiers, but the presence of this one here on these peaceful grounds is quite powerful. It brings the sto- ries of our troops back home to Ontario and to Huron County," she said. Made from the hull of a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) that had seen combat in Afghanistan during the 12 -year war, and atop a cairn of stone from the Victoria St. United Church that was destroyed during the 2011 tornado, she said the monu- ment will teach future gen- erations not only that Huron County supports its military, but of the sacrifices the sol- diers made in their name. "People will visit this museum and this monu- ment for generations to come. Particularly young people such as the scouts, the guides and the cadets gathered here today," said Dowdeswell. "All of them will learn how our soldiers fought by seeing their actual equipment. They will also learn of the sacrifices made by our troops, some of them not much older than them- selves. Sacrifices like those of the 162 soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan," Canada sent 40,000 sol- diers to Afghanistan, with the first group leaving after the terrorist attack in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. The war would cost the lives of 162 Canadians, 158 of them members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Following almost $22 -bil- lion spent fighting the Tali- ban and Al Qaeda, the Afghanistan mission, the nation's longest military engagement in its history, finally came to a close when Canada's last troops returned home in March of 2014. However, four young men -- Cpl. Robert Mitchell of Owen Sound, Cpl. Matthew Dinning of Wingham, Cpl. Brent Poland of Lambton and Trooper Mark Andrew Wilson of London -- would die in combat. Their families attended the ceremony, and Dow- deswell said she wants to show her support for all mili- tary families. She recalled a maxim once told to her that while it is the children who sign up to fight, the families do not but they do serve and do so with great distinction. "With this monument Huron County reminds all of us to cherish the men and women of our armed forces who stand on guard for the freedom and peace that we are privileged and, in fact, we take for granted today here in this country. As the representative of the majesty the Queen, I express my hope that this community finds peace and strength through this majestic memorial." She then presented each of the four silver cross fami- lies a piece of marble from the Canadian cenotaph that stood in the Canadian Task Force Headquarters in Kan- dahar, Afghanistan. The pedestal displaying a plaque before the monu- ment also contains marble from the cenotaph that was erected in Afghanistan in 2006 and repatriated to Can- ada in 2011. This monument is part of the largest program of its kind in Canada's history, said retired Maj -Gen. David Fraser, who was the regional commander for NATO's south mission in Afghani- stan and on the selection committee for the monu- ment program. He said the story of Cana- da's involvement in Afghani- stan is a "great Canadian story" that needs to be told. The LAV, he said, is not sim- ply a monument or even a vehicle soldiers drove, but it represents Canada's industrial capability to produce "the best vehicle in the world." "[It also] represents Cana- dian communities coming together supporting our men Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the lieutenant governor of Ontario, centre, stands with family members of the four men from the region who lost their lives fighting in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell smiles at members of the Canadian Armed Forces as she inspects the parade. A member of the Canadian Armed Forces and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer salute during the signing of the national anthem. The Huron County Afghanistan Community Monument on the night of Oct. 1, 2016. and women throughout the time we were in Afghani- stan;" the veteran said. Co-chair of the Huron County Afghanistan Com- munity Monument Paul Thorne thanked Dowdeswell for attending who in doing so made the event the more memorable for it. He also recognized those who donated to the project that cost around $50,000 for the demilitarization of the LAV and installation. He continued that while the ceremony was to dedi- cate the monument, the event is truly about the veterans. "It is not about the monu- ment; it is about our veter- ans we ask as a nation to rep- resent us in our collective effort to stand the tide of ter- rorism in this far off land that most of us know very little about," he said. He said the soldiers repre- sented the country with hon- our, professionalism and compassion, and while some question Canada's involve- ment in the war, the monu- ment will stand in answer. "This monument The colour party stand at attention during the dedication ceremony for the Huron County Afghanistan War monument Oct. 1. will service to validate your contribution to our collec- tive freedom and that your contribution was right and just," he said. He then told the silver cross families who had lost loved ones in the war that words cannot express the gratitude of Huron County for their sacrifice and may this monument be a place of remembrance and quiet contemplation for them. The section of Trafalgar St. alongside the museum was closed for the event as a large parade that preceded the ceremony with over a hundred men and women of the armed forces, Mountie Police, cadets, local Legions and local pipe bands. And who stood at attention throughout the dedication. "Today, with this symbolic place of remembrance we pledge to never, ever, ever, forget your loved ones' con- tribution and we will always remember and honour them," Thorne said.