Flypasts scheduled tomorrow for Afghanistan Rededication ceremony

Tomorrow, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be rededicating the Kandahar Cenotaph at a special ceremony taking place at the Afghanistan Memorial Hall, located at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in Ottawa. The ceremony will pay tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians who died during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Afghanistan Memorial Hall at National Defence Headquarters (Carling) between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. A reception will follow until 4 p.m.

During the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan, 158 Canadian Armed Forces personnel, a Canadian diplomat, a DND contractor, a Canadian journalist who was embedded with the Canadian Armed Forces, and 43 United States armed forces members who were under Canadian command, were killed.

The Kandahar Cenotaph was created to honour those military and civilian personnel who died during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. In 2011, the Cenotaph was transported to Canada and now rests in Afghanistan Memorial Hall at NDHQ.

In a press release, the Canadian Armed Forces advised people that during the course of the ceremony a number of RCAF aircraft will fly on a north to south flight path over National Defence Headquarters (Carling).

The aircraft which are expected to fly over the ceremony include a CC-130J Hercules, two CH-147F Chinook, and three CH146 Griffons.

The aircraft will fly over the event at an altitude no lower than 500 feet above the highest obstacle on their route.

Flypasts by the Royal Canadian Air Force are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure public safety, and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions.

For more information on how to arrange a visit to the Cenotaph on a day other than the open house on August 18, visit their website.