Today, the Canadian Armed Forces paid tribute to Canada’s Fallen in Afghanistan during a rededication ceremony of the Kandahar Cenotaph in the Afghanistan Memorial Hall at National Defence Headquarters (Carling) Ottawa.

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“The Afghanistan Memorial Hall stands as a tribute to those who gave their lives in service to their country during our mission in Afghanistan. Today, we honour and remember those fallen in Afghanistan and their family and friends. We will always remember their strength, courage and sacrifice. They will never be forgotten.”

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence 

“Today we gather to re-dedicate our Kandahar Cenotaph here at home on Canadian soil. Each stone bears the face and badge of one of our fallen, and together, they serve as a memorial to the sacrifice of Canada at war in Afghanistan. The solace this Cenotaph offered us in combat will remind every Canadian who visits it, military and civilian alike, of war’s true cost and our duty to remember the courage of those who gave all.”

General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff

“Today’s rededication ceremony is another important milestone in honouring our country’s legacy in Afghanistan. Together, we paid respects to their bravery, their strength and the ultimate sacrifice made by all military and civilians who served, and we thank the families who supported them. In its location at the Afghanistan Memorial Hall, we will continue to protect the legacy of the Fallen and remember their contributions to the Afghanistan mission.”

Lieutenant–General Jean-Marc Lanthier, Commander Canadian Army

• Canada’s military engagement in Afghanistan came at a significant cost: 158 Canadian Armed Forces personnel, a Canadian diplomat, a DND contractor, a Canadian journalist who was embedded with the Canadian Armed Forces, and 42 United States armed forces members and one civilian who were under Canadian command were killed during our military engagement in Afghanistan.

• The Kandahar Cenotaph was created by members of the Canadian Armed Forces as a battlefield memorial to honour military and civilian personnel who died during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.

• The Kandahar Cenotaph was transported to Canada in 2011 and is now housed in the recently constructed Afghanistan Memorial Hall at National Defence Headquarters (Carling), located at 60 Moodie Drive, Nepean, Ontario.

• Families and friends of the Fallen will have special access to the Afghanistan Memorial Hall immediately following the ceremony and again on August 18 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.  

• Members of the public will have an opportunity to view the Kandahar Cenotaph and pay tribute to Canada’s Afghanistan fallen on August 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Canadian Armed Forces personnel will be on site to answer questions and provide information to guests. Parking will be available at no cost.

• Visits to the Kandahar Cenotaph by families of Canada’s Fallen in Afghanistan began on May 26, 2019 and continue under special arrangements for the families. Further details are available at the Afghanistan Memorial Hall website.

• Any member of the public, Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans may visit the Kandahar Cenotaph after August 18, 2019 by arranging a visit through the Afghanistan Memorial Hall website. 

Associated links

• Afghanistan Memorial Hall Visit Registration
• The Canadian Armed Forces Legacy in Afghanistan
• Canada in Afghanistan
• Kandahar Cenotaph Honours the Fallen
• Canadian Armed Forces Facebook
• Canadian Armed Forces Twitter
• Canadian Army website
• Canadian Army Facebook
• Canadian Army Twitter
• Canadian Army YouTube
• Canadian Army Flickr
• Canadian Army Instagram

Media Relations Office
Department of National Defence
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