Alberta families honour memory of fallen soldiers to commemorate National Peacekeepers' Day
Family members, friends and veterans gathered Sunday to pay their respects and remember the lives of Albertans who died while fighting in peacekeeping missions and support operations around the world.
A couple hundred people attended a special ceremony at Peacekeeper Park in the southwest Calgary community of Garrison Green, where the names of the fallen were read aloud and wreaths were laid.
Lt. Col. (Ret’d.) Rick Wright is the Calgary chapter president of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP).
He says National Peacekeepers’ Day is recognized on the Sunday closest to Aug. 9 every year. That day in 1974 commemorates the loss of nine Canadian peacekeepers who were killed when their Buffalo aircraft was shot down by Syrian missiles during a mission in the Middle East.
“I remember that day, I was in disbelief,” said Wright, who was serving as a peacekeeper in Egypt at the time.
“I was listening on the net as the aircraft took off on its way to Damascus and heard it was shot down. I still get emotional just thinking about that day.”
'SUCH AN AMAZING CHILD'
Since 1948, more than 125,000 Canadian peacekeepers have participated in dozens of international efforts all over the world.
Sadly, more than 130 Canadians have since died in peacekeeping operations.
The family of Cpl. Cole Bartsch of Whitecourt, Alta., was in attendance Sunday to honour their son who died at the age of 23.
On July 4, 2007, while deployed in Afghanistan, Bartsch, five fellow members and their Afghan interpreter were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) southwest of Kandahar.
“He was such an amazing child, he loved life, he loved family, camping, just everything, and he was such a good kid,” said Bartsch’s mother, Juanita.
“He paid the ultimate price and sometimes people don’t remember that enough.”
The Town of Whitecourt recently unveiled a street earlier this year called Cpl. Bartsch Lane, which was considered one of the highest honours according to his sister, Tara.
“He was just the coolest kid without being cool,” said Tara.
“For us, it’s been 15 years so there’s programs like the Hope Program which have helped. It doesn’t ever get better, but it gets easier and the military is a family that is always there to support you.”
'HE WAS A HERO'
Pvt. Kevin Dallaire was described by many of his family members and friends as ‘the silent Frenchman’ who kept to himself, but always knew how to make others smile or laugh.
Dallaire died on Aug. 3, 2006 while serving in the Pashmul region of Afghanistan.
“He was a hero,” said Kevin’s mother Dianne Dallaire.
“He put himself in the line of fire so other Canadian troops could run to safety. He was shot while trying to go back to safety and then a rocket propelled grenade hit.”
According to a report from the Government of Canada, Dallaire traversed an open field under enemy fire and directed his section to keep moving until it reached its safety destination.
His actions reflected the highest standard of his regiment and the Canadian Forces Sacrifice Medal.
Sgt. George Miok. (Supplied)
AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS
Sgt. George Miok was a peacekeeper who served both in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
The Sherwood Park, Alta., resident was considered a Canadian hero after giving his life in combat, but it was his job as a teacher that inspired hundreds of young Albertans.
“He was a very happy young man and so popular amongst all of his students,” said George’s father, Eli.
Miok earned an education degree from the University of Alberta and became a teacher after his first tour in Afghanistan.
He was a Grade 7 teacher at St. Cecilia’s Junior High School in 2008 and considering a full-time role after his second tour of duty in Afghanistan in September 2009.
Sadly, Miok was killed on Dec. 30, 2009, at the age of 28 after the armoured vehicle he was in struck an IED near Kandahar City.
Cpl. Zachery McCormack, Sgt. Kirk Taylor, Pvt. Garrett Chidley, as well as Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang, were also killed in the explosion. Lang was the first Canadian journalist to die in Afghanistan.
“It’s been 13 years now,” said Eli.
“But even after all these years, his students are remembering George and some of them went into education to become a teacher because of him.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.