Our troops return from Afghan mission
280 of 800-odd soldiers involved in combat mission arrive home
By Tim Cook
Canadian Press
EDMONTON (CP) — With yellow ribbons tied to trees and hand-painted signs in storefront windows, the city welcomed home the first wave of Canadian troops returning home from Afghanistan today.
For the soldiers, it was their first time on Canadian soil in six months. For their families and the rest of the country, it was the first chance to welcome home troops from a theatre of war in 50 years.
The celebrations began at the international airport.
Clad in the same controversial green camouflage they left in, 280 soldiers made their way from their chartered plane into the terminal, where a bagpiper and a crowd of flag-waving supporters and military officials greeted them.
They embraced wives and sweethearts, shook hands with fellow soldiers and loaded their duffel bags onto waiting buses. One said he was anxious to get home to see for the first time his new daughter, who was born in his absence.
Stuart Giles came all the way from Lakefield, Ont. to meet his son Pte. David Giles, 22, at the airport.
"It's been a nerve-racking mission," Giles said, as he waited for the arrival with David's girlfriend Alida Colusso.
"It's been a year since we've seen him and we're just glad he is coming home safe."
Both Colusso and Giles said they hadn't slept much in the last few days. Colusso was keeping Giles in the dark as to the plans she had for the homecoming.
"I'm not part of their plans tonight," Giles said with a chuckle. "I'm being dropped off somewhere. That's all I know."
Maj.-Gen. Richard Hillier told the airport crowd that he was proud of the job the soldiers did in the campaign against terrorism.
"We are proud of the credibility they have given us in the ally's eyes around the world."
Brig.-Gen. Ivan Fenton, who heads all land forces in western Canada, said the return of the troops from Afghanistan is much different from peacekeeping missions.
"It's more emotional that a peacekeeping mission," he said as soldiers filed past him. "They're usually more routine. This mission was never routine."
He said it was critical that Canadian soldiers gained experience fighting for their country, apart from the peace-keeping missions they have conducted in recent decades.
"Our soldiers must be able to fight," he said. "They must be able to endure combat. They met that challenge."
From the terminal the troops, most of whom are members of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, boarded eight buses and a police escort led them on the 60-kilometre trip to Edmonton Garrison.
Under cloudy skies, crowds lined the yellow-ribbon route to the base. Cars honked and people waved as the procession passed by.
At the base there was a sense of eager anticipation as family members waited anxiously for their loved ones to arrive.
In the days leading up to the homecoming, the city and the base had been a blur of activity.
At the Garrison, children made colourful banners and flags, while wives and husbands headed to the hair dresser's and the grocery store to make sure every detail was right.
Trees, signs and lampposts throughout the city were decorated with yellow ribbons and businesses put out welcoming signs.
Concerns of post-traumatic stress and re-integration difficulties were secondary today.
A week of decompression in the South Pacific was expected to help the soldiers return to normal life and military counsellors will be on hand in the coming weeks to aid anyone having difficulty coping with their experiences.
For the Canadian military, Afghanistan and the U.S.-led war on terrorism was the first taste of ground combat since the Korean War.
Those within military circles have called the Afghanistan mission an unqualified success.
Though marred by the tragedy of a friendly-fire incident that claimed four lives, and a subsequent investigation that was rife with uncertainty, many soldiers have said it was the experience of a lifetime. Most left Afghanistan maintaining that they're extremely proud of themselves.
In all, about 800 Canadians were involved in the mission overseas. In the coming days more homecomings are planned — the next being on Tuesday.
The City of Edmonton is planning a parade to honour the troops on Aug. 9.
In Manitoba, the communities of Winnipeg and Brandon are also planning festivities to welcome their troops home.
280 of 800-odd soldiers involved in combat mission arrive home
By Tim Cook
Canadian Press
EDMONTON (CP) — With yellow ribbons tied to trees and hand-painted signs in storefront windows, the city welcomed home the first wave of Canadian troops returning home from Afghanistan today.
For the soldiers, it was their first time on Canadian soil in six months. For their families and the rest of the country, it was the first chance to welcome home troops from a theatre of war in 50 years.
The celebrations began at the international airport.
Clad in the same controversial green camouflage they left in, 280 soldiers made their way from their chartered plane into the terminal, where a bagpiper and a crowd of flag-waving supporters and military officials greeted them.
They embraced wives and sweethearts, shook hands with fellow soldiers and loaded their duffel bags onto waiting buses. One said he was anxious to get home to see for the first time his new daughter, who was born in his absence.
Stuart Giles came all the way from Lakefield, Ont. to meet his son Pte. David Giles, 22, at the airport.
"It's been a nerve-racking mission," Giles said, as he waited for the arrival with David's girlfriend Alida Colusso.
"It's been a year since we've seen him and we're just glad he is coming home safe."
Both Colusso and Giles said they hadn't slept much in the last few days. Colusso was keeping Giles in the dark as to the plans she had for the homecoming.
"I'm not part of their plans tonight," Giles said with a chuckle. "I'm being dropped off somewhere. That's all I know."
Maj.-Gen. Richard Hillier told the airport crowd that he was proud of the job the soldiers did in the campaign against terrorism.
"We are proud of the credibility they have given us in the ally's eyes around the world."
Brig.-Gen. Ivan Fenton, who heads all land forces in western Canada, said the return of the troops from Afghanistan is much different from peacekeeping missions.
"It's more emotional that a peacekeeping mission," he said as soldiers filed past him. "They're usually more routine. This mission was never routine."
He said it was critical that Canadian soldiers gained experience fighting for their country, apart from the peace-keeping missions they have conducted in recent decades.
"Our soldiers must be able to fight," he said. "They must be able to endure combat. They met that challenge."
From the terminal the troops, most of whom are members of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, boarded eight buses and a police escort led them on the 60-kilometre trip to Edmonton Garrison.
Under cloudy skies, crowds lined the yellow-ribbon route to the base. Cars honked and people waved as the procession passed by.
At the base there was a sense of eager anticipation as family members waited anxiously for their loved ones to arrive.
In the days leading up to the homecoming, the city and the base had been a blur of activity.
At the Garrison, children made colourful banners and flags, while wives and husbands headed to the hair dresser's and the grocery store to make sure every detail was right.
Trees, signs and lampposts throughout the city were decorated with yellow ribbons and businesses put out welcoming signs.
Concerns of post-traumatic stress and re-integration difficulties were secondary today.
A week of decompression in the South Pacific was expected to help the soldiers return to normal life and military counsellors will be on hand in the coming weeks to aid anyone having difficulty coping with their experiences.
For the Canadian military, Afghanistan and the U.S.-led war on terrorism was the first taste of ground combat since the Korean War.
Those within military circles have called the Afghanistan mission an unqualified success.
Though marred by the tragedy of a friendly-fire incident that claimed four lives, and a subsequent investigation that was rife with uncertainty, many soldiers have said it was the experience of a lifetime. Most left Afghanistan maintaining that they're extremely proud of themselves.
In all, about 800 Canadians were involved in the mission overseas. In the coming days more homecomings are planned — the next being on Tuesday.
The City of Edmonton is planning a parade to honour the troops on Aug. 9.
In Manitoba, the communities of Winnipeg and Brandon are also planning festivities to welcome their troops home.
