Three Canadian Military veterans were honoured during a special ceremony focusing on Afghanistan mission vets August 19 at Cranbrook’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 24.

Adding a sense of higher office to the tribute was the fact that one of the three vets who attended the Cranbrook Legion ceremony, with dozens of others being held at the same time across Canada, is the son of Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks.

The newly elected Member of Parliament, City of Cranbrook Mayor Scott Manjak and Legion officials were joined by Corporal Matthew Wilks, a combat engineer who returned July 6 from Afghanistan. His perilous duties as a combat engineer included searching for and nullifying IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Matthew calls Sparwood home when he isn’t serving his nation.

In addition, Kimberley resident Sarah Zimmer, an x-ray technician with the Royal 3 Hospital in Kandahar was on hand, along with Warrant Officer Bruce Saunders, a 25-year vet with the Canadian military, having served in both the army and air force.

MP Wilks admitted he and his wife had endured many trying moments while their son was overseas and expressed gratitude that his son and many other sons and daughters returned home alive and in one piece.

However, the MP also noted the ultimate sacrifice made by 157 Canadian Forces personnel, with 95 of them killed by the same IEDs that his son hunted and disarmed.

“I’m very proud of the accomplishments of our troops,” Wilks said, noting they not only contributed to the battle against Al Queda and the Taliban, but to the social well being of millions of Afghanis. For example, Canadian troops helped inoculated seven million Afghani children against polio.

“I’m always humbled by the fact I am in a room full of people who love their country” and have served their country, stated Cranbrook mayor Manjak. “It is such an honour to be with you today. We are so thrilled that you have been able to come home safe and sound,” he said to the three veterans.

“This would not be the country it is and this would not be the community it is with all of you,” he told the many decorated veterans packed in the Legion hall. He added that his “greatest joy” in his 12 years in local politics is attending Legion events. Manjak is retiring from local politics following the November elections and moving to Sparwood, where his wife Raeleen will begin work with the District of Sparwood.

Legion Branch No. 24 past president Bob Muir gave an emotional welcome and salutation to the honoured guests, following the traditional Legion Remembrance ceremony.

“We appreciate what you have done so much,” he said. “We are a nation that never backs down” and Canada’s current Armed Forces provide proof of that.

“We waited four years before we acknowledged our Korean vets,” he said, noting he’s pleased that Canada’s Afghan vets are not being ignored in such a way.

“As far as I am concerned,” he said, his voice cracking, “anyone who puts on a uniform should be loved and respected,” Muir concluded.

“Words are not enough. That’s what this is all about,” said event MC Robbie Martin. “I just want to tell you just how proud we are of you,” he said to the three vets before Legion member Ray LeClair led decorated veteran Colin Anderson to the small cenotaph located in the Legion to lay a wreath.

“I was honoured to be asked to present the wreath,” Anderson said.

Martin presided over a toast “to our fallen comrades – we will remember them,” before Legion First Vice President Edith LeClair read a short letter from Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, who noted “the freedom our vets have given us with their sacrifices.”

Master Corporal Rick Lowe then addressed the Legion crowd, noting the richness of the military history in this part of the region.

“This area has quite a military history. There is a long military tradition,” he said. “This area has produced some truly exceptional soldiers.”

He also pointed out that it isn’t just military personnel who make sacrifices when they head into war zones. It is also the families of the military men and women who sacrifice for their country.

“We do this by choice,” he said, looking at the three honoured veterans, “they inherit that. There are a lot of people who have chosen to put on the uniform and there is no way you can your job over there without support at home.”

Martin said he believed the special event for the Afghan vets was a good event. “Sometimes you think can’t you can’t do enough, but this was good,” he said.

Canadian troops first arrived in Afghanistan in December 2001 when 40 special operations soldiers with the Joint Task Force Two (JTF2) taking part in early operations. By January 2002 regular troops began to arrive. Currently, Canada has between 2,500 and 2,830 military personnel taking part in the International Security Assistance Force.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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