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On November 11th, I had the privilege to participate as the
civilian police representative in the vigil at Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar.
I have attended many Remembrance Day services in the past.
Although all have been significant; this one will be a very special memory.
Having been in Afghanistan for eight months, I have participated in several ramp ceremonies.
This is something most Canadians at home don't get to experience.
Each one is a very emotional and somber event and a reminder of the great cost of war.
As a police officer at home I have often witnessed the heartache
and devastation that a family goes through when a loved one dies suddenly.
During this Remembrance day ceremony it’s hard not think about the families
who don't need Remembrance Day to think of the sacrifices Canadian soldiers have made.
Everyday these families have to endure the cost for our freedoms that we are privileged to have in Canada.
After eight months of training and mentoring the Afghan National Police, I feel grateful for this experience.
I have met and worked with exceptional servicemen and women who work tirelessly to help build a safe and secure Afghanistan.
This experience has given me a renewed appreciation for our country.
The sacrifices that these men and women make for Canada are tremendous and should always be remembered.
For this Saskatoon police officer, Remembrance Day will take on a much more personal meaning
as I remember my experiences in Afganistan and the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces serving there.
I will never forget those moving ramp ceremonies. Lest We Forget!
