Branch 52 to join Legions across Canada in National Day of Honour for Afghan mission

Kamloops Legion, Branch 52 will join legions across the country taking part in the National Day of Honour on Friday, May 9 to salute those who served in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in March that May 9 would be a National Day of Honour to mark the end of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan, and to salute the fallen, honour veterans and celebrate the strength of military families.

Branch 52 will hold an open house social that day from 3 to 7 p.m. for anyone who served in Afghanistan during Canada’s mission, including soldiers, law enforcement and civilians.

Families and friends of veterans, and the general public are also invited “to socialize and thank the men and women who proudly served Canada during this conflict. Refreshments will be served.”

Several major events are planned for Ottawa, including a Soldier On Afghanistan Relay, a True Patriot Love Breakfast, a private ceremony with Families of the Fallen in the Senate, and a parade.

At 1:30 p.m. Ottawa time (10:30 a.m. in Kamloops), a single gunshot will signal two minutes of national silence, followed by a military fly-by. A more complete outline of the events in Ottawa is provided on the government’s website.

The event has been controversial, beginning with an initial plan to ask families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan to pay their own way to the ceremonies in Ottawa. The Conservative government quickly promised to pay the expenses.

Other criticisms have swirled around the general organization of the day’s activities and the government’s slowness in releasing details.

Commemorations will be held in Legion halls across Canada but a Royal Canadian Legion spokesman said they had been given only 10 days to make plans.

“We’re scrambling,” Canadian Legion director of marketing Scott Ferris told the Ottawa Citizen last week.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t part of the planning process because we could have done so much more. We have a lot of resources and experience planning these sorts of events. We could have been an asset.”

The Canadian mission in Afghanistan lasted 12 years and claimed the lives of 162 Canadians. It officially ended March 31.

For more information on the Kamloops event, contact Craig Thomson, President Branch 52, at 250-319-9352, or email president@kamloopslegion.com.