{"id":45568,"date":"2018-10-13T13:35:25","date_gmt":"2018-10-13T19:35:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saitjournalism.ca\/?p=45568"},"modified":"2021-02-07T20:55:56","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T03:55:56","slug":"memorial-to-canadas-war-in-afghanistan-unveiled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saitjournalism.ca\/thepress\/2018\/10\/13\/memorial-to-canadas-war-in-afghanistan-unveiled\/","title":{"rendered":"Memorial to Canada’s War in Afghanistan unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
New Honour: <\/strong>Cpl. Mark Fuchko stands in front of LAV III monument at the Military Museums in Calgary. Fuchko was wounded in the Afghan conflict. (Photo by Andrew Bardsley\/The Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

W<\/span>hile the memories of Canada\u2019s war in Afghanistan remain fresh for many, a new monument to honour those who sacrificed their lives has been created, to ensure is never forgotten.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The monument was unveiled in September at The Military Museums<\/a>, in southwest Calgary.<\/span><\/p>\n

The marker is a repurposed LAV III, the primary fighting vehicle for the Canadian Armed Forces during their conflict in Afghanistan, from 2001 to 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part of what will soon be Canada\u2019s National Afghan War museum, the LAV III is the first step towards establishing the national museum exhibit. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe unveiling of this monument is important to all Canadians, it connects them to the conflict,” said Cpl. Mark Fuchko (RET), who was in attendance.<\/span><\/p>\n

“While I never served on one, I saw them everywhere. Every battle group, every task force, had them.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuchko, who was seriously injured in the conflict, believes that the monument offers Canadians a way to learn the history of a surprisingly recent conflict. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo have it here in Calgary to memorialize the service of more than 40,000 Canadians, many of whom contributed a lot…is a meaningful way for people to connect to their history. It makes its all a little more real,\u201d said Fuchko. <\/span><\/p>\n

The exhibit is situated in the courtyard outside of the museum, on the east side of Crowchild Trail S.W. north of 50th Street. It will eventually be moved to the new Afghanistan museum, which is to be completed in 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey [the government] have seen how professional we are, how we have acted in the past and also because two of the seven museums which are part of the military museums\u00a0 Lord Strathcona\u2019s and The PPCLI {Princess Patricia\u2019s Canadian Light Infantry, had direct service in Afghanistan,\u201d said senior curator and director of collections Rory Cory. <\/span><\/p>\n

Cory, who has been curator for more than a decade, is proud to see the museums be chosen for the future site. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe reaction so far has been really amazing. Just the heroism and patriotism being recognized is really great,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n

The museum, which already has several vehicles from the conflict, is proud to have received what veterans refer to as \u201cthe symbol of Canada\u2019s conflict in Afghanistan.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the ones I saw were never this clean, I think it is an important reminder of the conflict,\u201d said Fuchko. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Military Museums is five separate museums, each dedicated to a different aspect of the military.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt just made sense from a relevance perspective and also, largely, both of those regiments are Alberta based,\u201d said Cory.<\/span><\/p>\n

The unveiling itself was attended by military veterans and their families, and interested citisens. Nearly 100 people were in attendance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>I never knew much about the conflict since I am only 22, but after reading more about it and realizing that it really was not that long ago, it seemed important to attend an event like this,\u201d said Danial Lehn.<\/p>\n

While the ones I saw were never this clean, I think it is an important reminder of the conflict. – Mark Fuchko\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The event, as both Cory and Fuchko suggest, is meant to educate people on the military history of Canada and of the recent conflicts in Afghanistan.<\/span><\/p>\n

WIth the unveiling, the LAV III becomes the fifth vehicle to join the Military Museums Afghan War collection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s conflict in Afghanistan, dubbed Operation Apollo, was a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

The conflict resulted in the loss of 158 lives with more than 2,000 Canadians wounded during the decade-long conflict, which is Canada\u2019s longest. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While the memories of Canada\u2019s war in Afghanistan remain fresh for many, a new monument aims to honour those who sacrificed their lives.<\/p>\n

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