Queen’s Park unveils Afghan War memorial
Addition includes stone from inukshuk built by Canadians in Kandahar
It was a Remembrance Day to remember at Queen’s Park — just not in person.
Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Premier Doug Ford unveiled a new memorial on Wednesday to commemorate the158 Canadian Armed Forces personnel killed in the War in Afghanistan.
But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance on the south lawn of the legislature was strictly limited to a smattering of journalists, officials and military personnel.
Due to the need for safe physical distancing, people were encouraged to watch the sombre annual ceremony on television or via online livestreaming.
Complementing the black granite veterans’ monument built in 2006, the new memorial features a zigzagging bronze ribbon to symbolize Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain.
It includes a stone from an inukshuk dedicated to the fallen, which was erected by Canadian soldiers at the Kandahar air field.
From certain angles, the memorial resembles the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The Afghan campaign was triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack that destroyed the towers.
Dowdeswell acknowledged that “Remembrance Day 2020 takes place in strange and uncertain circumstances.”
“We’re in the midst of a global pandemic. We are all vulnerable and must remain vigilant,” she said. “As we begin the rebuilding and dare to dream of a better normal, those who have served in our armed forces provide inspiration.
“Working together in common cause, members of the Canadian forces have been there for us every step of the way: on the front lines, in long-term care homes, in cities and towns as reassuring leaders and neighbours.
“Today, we’ve given up coming together in large numbers. We do so to protect others. It’s a small, but important gesture, through which we actually respect and honour the legacy of those who sacrificed for us.”
Ford agreed, saying “we face a new enemy in COVID-19” that is testing today’s generations in a different way.
“We stand united as a people, as a province, and as a country in paying tribute to our heroes,” he said on an unseasonably warm November day.
The premier added it was important to have a “permanent reminder of those Canadian heroes who served in the War in Afghanistan.
“We remember their sacrifice, we grieve with the loved ones of the fallen, and we thank them for their service to our province and to our country,” Ford said.
Heritage Minister Lisa MacLeod said the addition to the memorial “will stand as a lasting legacy here at Queen’s Park, giving all Ontarians a space to show our gratitude to this generation of heroes.”
Designed by PFS Studio in consultation with retired Gen. Rick Hillier, it is a reminder that, from 2001until 2014, some 40,000 Canadians fought in Afghanistan, 2,000 of whom were wounded.
“Our veterans, our fallen soldiers and their families deserve our recognition, and our profound respect, appreciation and pride,” Hillier said. “From today forward, this memorial will be a touchstone for veterans of Afghanistan, their families and the people of Ontario and all of Canada.”
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath emphasized “we must never take for granted the immeasurable sacrifice they made to serve our country, and never forget the tragedy of each lost life.”
“In addition to remembering, we have a duty to ensure that our province’s veterans and their families receive the utmost care, including support for PTSD or mental trauma, and making sure that caring and appropriate long-term care is available to veterans who can no longer live at home,” Horwath said.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said Remembrance Day is a time to “reflect and show our unwavering respect for those we have lost on battlefields around the world.”
“Sons and daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters who paid the ultimate price and never came home. We thank them for their service, for their dedication and for their valour,” Del Duca said.
Despite the restrained commemorations at Queen’s Park, there was the traditional flypast by four yellow Second World War Harvard training aircraft, a 21-gun salute, the tolling of bells at the nearby University of Toronto’s St. George campus and the familiar, wailing lament of the bagpipes.