A Ajax man who was visiting Cobourg on Sunday, August 22, 2021 heard about a vigil for a local Afghanistan family in Victoria Park and felt compelled to attend.
Having served two tours with the Canadian military in Afghanistan, Sam welcomed the chance to join in with the vigil.
Sam was a language culture advisor providing support to the Canadian Forces.
“It’s beautiful what you guys are doing here – it’s like a family,” Sam said after the hour long vigil.
“I really love Cobourg. The whole community was here.”
“They put out their thoughts and prayers. It felt like it was a whole family as one.”
During the vigil Sam spoke to the group, but could hardly get the words out because it was so emotional for him.
“People in Cobourg look after each other – I was really impressed.”
Sam was born in Afghanistan and escaped at the age of 14-years-old in the cover of darkness with his family.
He’s lived in Canada since and owns a successful business in the GTA.
“As an Afghan/Canadian who has also been there and served – you get more emotional seeing all the progress that was there and then you see families that have loved ones there that are a security threat – it’s just sad overall.”
It was during one tour in Afghanistan, Sam was severely wounded when a suicide bomber detonated the device only a metre or two from where he was standing.
“The helicopter was going up in the air and the second one was landing. There was so much dust powder and he was coming from a compound and I was about to shake my hand. I couldn’t see a lot, I just saw a figure coming and I was about to extend my hand and looked – and his eyes – he looked weird and next thing you know he pressed the button.”
Sam woke up in the hospital and said it’s been a long road to recovery.
Seeing a number of coalition forces during his time in Afghanistan, Sam said without a doubt Canada was providing quality care to his home country.
“Canada did so much there it’s very hard for me to put into words.”
From building roads, community buildings, building schools, women’s centres and literally building an infrastructure.
When Sam was in Afghanistan, he has no doubt about the good work being done, but looking at what is happening now to his country he says, “but given the circumstances of what’s going on it makes me think twice. We haven’t lost hope. That’s what we Afghans always have is hope for a better future.”
Today’s Northumberland asked Sam what his thoughts were about what is currently taking place at the Kabul airport.
“People that really need to be getting out, can’t get out.”
“They just want to get out of the country. They don’t want to be under Taliban rule. They don’t want to face what they faced in 1995 to 2001.”
“They know when the US and coalition forces leave, they are going to be stuck with the same (Taliban) regime all over again.”
Sam said, “we did what we could to the best of our abilities as Canada. But right now I think our focus should be to get as many refugees out as possible. Especially those that served with Canadian Forces.”
Sam said during his time in Afghanistan there were local interpreters and contractors working with Canadian Forces.
Today’s Northumberland asked Sam flat out that if Canada does not get the people who helped Canadian Forces in Afghanistan is it the fault of Canada.
“Absolutely. Basically then we lost our word – we failed them.”
“Because they are the people who helped us out over there.”
Sam said he served alongside Afghans who helped the Canadian military with some paying the ultimate price.
“They gave their life. And right now is the true testament whether we are going to honour what we promised them.”
As both an Afghan and a Canadian, Sam said he has many emotions.
“I have feelings of betrayal, feelings of helplessness because we can’t help them. It’s very hard for me to comprehend.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
