Veterans and current members of the Armed Forces were in Winnipeg’s North End this weekend for the unveiling of a monument honouring the tens of thousands of Canadians who served in Afghanistan.
A third-generation Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) used by the country’s troops during the Afghan War has been placed in the park outside the Lt.-Col. Harcus Strachan, VC, MC Armoury, at McGregor Street and Machray Avenue.
Brig.-Gen. Wade Rutland said the LAV III was the backbone of the Canadian army in Afghanistan, symbolizing the sacrifices the soldiers and their families made during the conflict that took place from 2001 to 2021.
“You lived in those vehicles, you fought in them, you ate in them,” he said at the unveiling ceremony on Sunday. “It’s a physical monument, but I think it means a lot in our hearts.”
More than 40,000 Canadians served in Afghanistan. About 160 lost their lives.
Canada’s combat role in the country ended in 2011 when the focus shifted to training Afghanistan’s army and police force. That wrapped up when the last Canadian service members withdrew in March 2014.
The U.S. completed their withdrawal on Aug. 30, 2021.
Among the Canadians who died during combat was Cpl. Michael Seggie, who was killed in a Taliban ambush while conducting a safety patrol in 2008. He was 21 years old.
“I remember his phone calls home … one in particular, [when] he told me he got promoted,” said Jim Seggie, a retired chief warrant officer and Michael’s father.
“Whatever he wanted to do, and he put his mind to, he would do it.”
Seggie said the monument shows Canadians haven’t forgotten about the people who served in Afghanistan.
“Canadians care,” he said. “Canadians remember, remember the troops that fell in battle.”
The Fort Garry Horse regiment says this is the only monument in the city specific to Afghan operations.
Bob Williams, former honorary colonel of the regiment, said 10 years is “way too long” to wait for a monument.
“We went to Afghanistan, we didn’t do the easy jobs. We got the tough jobs,” he said.
“To all of the veterans, [the monument] means really one thing: Canada, when called, did its duty.”
The monument is the last one of 33 LAV III installed across Canada as part of a program by Canadian Company, a national charity. Fort Garry Horse Foundation raised the money for its installation.