Royal Canadian Mounted Police
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
CIVPOL Diary: Remembering fallen comrades
Archived Content
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
By Cst. Charles Reddick
KPRT CIVPOL
Camp Nathan Smith — On November 11, 2007, members of the Canadian Police Contingent (Civpol) participated in Remembrance Day Ceremonies at the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT) and the Kandahar Air Field (KAF). We decided the best way to honour our police and military comrades who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country was to wear our Red Serge during the parade ceremonies.
Having the opportunity to represent the Civpol contingent on Remembrance Day in Red Serge in Kandahar, Afghanistan was truly humbling and an honour. It is one of the highlights of the Civpol mission and I will hold the memory close to my heart always. We must not forget the true meaning of Remembrance Day; to show our gratitude to those soldiers and police officers, past and present, who paid the ultimate price to protect the values, beliefs and freedom that we cherish today. The saying that “nothing in life is free” is true. The brave women and men who gave their lives so that we can live in peace are the truest example of this quote.
Remembrance Day is also a day to reflect on our many brave police officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the execution of their duties back home. Members of the Civpol contingent thank those fallen soldiers and police officers for paving the way, so that we are able to have the liberties that we enjoy today.
It’s hard to believe that most of the ROTO 2 Civpol contingent members have been here for eight to nine months now. Soon our mission will be over and we will be moving on to other avenues in our careers.
I’m sure that I speak for all of us here at the Civpol contingent in saying that we truly know and understand the great sacrifices the Afghan National Police (ANP) continually endure in their battle to make their country a safer place for its citizens. Over the last year alone almost 700 ANP made the ultimate sacrifice.
click to enlarge
Civpol members have and continue to make countless missions “outside the wire” in order to mentor, monitor and train the ANP on many fronts. We are moving in “inches” not “feet”, but progress is moving forward in a positive manner.
The ANP is still in the infancy stages of development and has ongoing issues that are being addressed. What continues to inspire me to provide the ANP with a consistent professional level of support is the response I get whenever I have the opportunity to speak with an ANP at one of their substations, district centres or check points. When asked what motivates them to continue to work under such extreme hazardous conditions, I usually get the same response, like this one from an ANP in the Dand District, Kandahar Province;
“This is my country, it’s my duty for my country. We stay because we want a safe place for our families to live.”
