A national memorial commemorating Canada’s mission in Afghanistan visits the B.C. legislature this week.
The memorial honours the memory of soldiers and civilians who gave their lives in Afghanistan.
The 192 plaques on display represent 204 people who died during the various military deployments in Afghanistan and include 156 Canadian soldiers, a Canadian diplomat, a defence contractor and a journalist. The 43 Americans who died under Canadian command are also represented.
The plaques were formally part of the Kandahar Airfield cenotaph, which was dismantled and repatriated in Canada. The cenotaph was a memorial structure for Canadian soldiers to commemorate their collegaues who died while deployed in Afghanistan.
Canada’s role in the Afghanistan War began in 2001 and ended last March. More than 2,500 Canadian Forces personnel served there.
The Victoria exhibit runs from July 21 to 26 from 8:30 a.m. To 5 p.m.
After the exhibit in Victoria, the memorial will be shown at Canada Place in Vancouver.
