It was an early morning start to pick up what will be a piece of Cobourg’s history on Monday, October 21, 2019.
Chadwick’s Towing and Repairs driver Phil Flieler and myself were heading to an undisclosed location in western Ontario to pick up the LAV III.
The Town of Cobourg has partnered with Canada Company in acquiring the LAVIII which was used in Afghanistan war.
The vehicle was literally home to thousands of Canadian soldiers from 2001 to 2014.
Flieler said when he was first notified he was picking up the LAVIII he was not only excited, but proud.
“This is history and I’m a bit of a history buff,” as he drives down Highway 401 with a nearly 25,000 pound load behind him.
“It’s certainly out of the ordinary and is something Cobourg can take great pride in having.”
A total of 158 Canadian soldiers died in Afghanistan. Each one traveled along the Highway of Heroes from CFB Trenton to Toronto passing through Northumberland County along with Cobourg as thousands of people stood on bridges to pay their respects.
Over 1,800 soldiers were injured physically in Afghanistan. Some wounds heal, but the horrors of war have stayed with many of the soldiers.
Canada showed the world during the Afghanistan war how we treat our fallen and their families with pride and respect.
As time passes, memories fade – for civilians.
But for those families and friends of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, for those still suffering this memorial is for them.
Because there are no longer casualties “coming home” doesn’t mean there is no longer a need for us to help those who fought so bravely.
The Light Armoured Vehicle III (LAV), Afghanistan Memorial will be at the site of the No. 26 Ordnance Depot of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps from 1954 – 1970 (Canadian Forces Station Cobourg).
Canada Company administers the LAV III Monument Program which was established to commemorate Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.
communities receive full-size decommissioned replica LAV III vehicles, provided by the Government of Canada, to be used as centerpieces for local monuments. The LAV III’s are the iconic vehicles used during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.
In 2018 the Town of Cobourg was awarded the LAV III Monument and will be one of over 30 communities across Canada to install a monument commemorating fallen military members and their families.
The LAV III will be tentatively placed at the location on D’Arcy Street on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 in Cobourg.
The Cobourg Afghanistan Memorial is to be unveiled on Friday, November 8, 2019 at 700 D’Arcy Street in Cobourg starting at 3:30 pm. and everyone is welcome to attend.
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
