Canadian peacekeepers who served around the world were honoured in Ottawa Sunday, as veterans, current members of the military and the RCMP gathered to remember decades of service and those who never came home. The National Peacekeepers’ Day ceremony was held at Reconciliation: The Peacekeeping Monument, bringing together veterans, military and police personnel, family, and dignitaries. For veteran Samson Young, the ceremony was an opportunity to reflect on experiences that have stayed with him long after returning to Canada. “Some of the things we saw, we witnessed over there, it makes us appreciate so much in Canada what we have,” Young said. Young retired in May after more than 35 years of service. His last peacekeeping tour took him to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2013. He later worked with NATO in Belgium in 2016. He said serving overseas gave him a different perspective on the things Canadians can sometimes take for granted. “You think about people who have no food, where their next meal will come from,” Young said. “You have water, you have light, they do not.” The date carries particular significance in Canada’s military history. On Aug. 9, 1974, nine Canadian Armed Forces members serving with a United Nations mission were killed when their Buffalo transport aircraft was shot down over Syria. It remains the largest single loss of Canadian lives during a peacekeeping mission. Lt.-Gen Darcy Molstad, commander of Canadian Joint Forces Command, said he was only one and a half years old when the nine peacekeepers were killed. “For me, I’m here to honour their sacrifices, honour their service,” Molstad said. “They have done incredible things and incredible deeds to ensure that this world is a safer place.” Since 1948, more than 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces members and more than 4,000 RCMP members have served in international peace support missions in more than 35 countries. Molstad said those missions have often placed Canadians in extraordinarily difficult situations. “It’s hard to keep the peace between two parties that are not necessarily ready to find peace,” he said. “The courage, the empathy, the compassion, and the patience that is required is phenomenal.” A total of 130 Canadian Armed Forces members have lost their lives while serving on peacekeeping missions, according to Molstad. For the veterans who gathered at the monument Sunday, the ceremony also provided an opportunity to reconnect with people who understand those experiences. Ron Griffis, national president of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, travelled with his wife from southwestern Ontario to attend the ceremony. “It’s extremely emotional, remembering all that’s gone on,” Griffis said. “You start thinking about things way back when, when we were overseas and the difficulties that we encountered while we were there.” Griffis said those experiences can follow veterans’ home, including both physical and mental injuries. His organization has chapters across Canada, providing opportunities for veterans and their families to come together and remember their service. Molstad said that connection also extends to the next generation. He recalled watching young cadets take part in the ceremony alongside retired Gen. Walter Natynczyk, who served as the reviewing officer. “That’s the future,” Molstad recalled telling him. “They need to connect with the veterans, with the older generations to understand what it was like to serve so they go into it with eyes wide open,” he said. “The future is bright.” It’s a sentiment shared by Young, who said he was encouraged to see younger Canadians taking part. “I’m glad for the young people,” he said. “To take on the torch and carry on.” National Peacekeepers’ Day has been officially marked in Canada every Aug. 9 since 2008.
