CFB TRENTON, Ont. — A memorial that honours Canadians who died during the Afghan mission has a new home.
The Camp Mirage Memorial Cairn was officially unveiled Wednesday at the National Air Force Museum of Canada on CFB Trenton.
The three-part pyramid-like granite structure includes brass plates with the names of the 157 soldiers who have died during Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan.
The monument was originally located at Camp Mirage, a key base in Dubai used to support the Afghan war.
Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan is ending this month.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay attended Wednesday’s unveiling.
“The monument served as a place where personnel from Camp Mirage could gather to honour, remember, and grieve our fallen,” MacKay said in a release.
“There is no doubt that Trenton has an intimate connection to our military. The monument is now fittingly displayed at the National Air Force Museum of Canada where it will be for us, and for future generations, to remember the sacrifices of some of the bravest Canadians.”
The monument is displayed in a manner that recreates its placement at Camp Mirage.
The idea of a memorial monument at Camp Mirage was born in 2005 and the cairn was officially in place a year later. It was moved to Canada following the closure of Camp Mirage in October.