Canadian soldiers remembered with monument
Jacquie Clancy
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: News
The Memorial Monument is being created by the CMOHC, an organization that is dedicated to the promotion of world peace and is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The museum was built in 2004 and is an addition to the Vishnu Mandir temple.
In addition to the promotion of world peace, the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization (CMOHC) organization "is the first knowledge-based museum dedicated to showcasing the essence of Hinduism in North America. Its objective is to engage, educate and entertain visitors of all ages, especially school and university students", as stated in a press release.
"CMOHC has undertaken several initiatives dedicated to world peace and we thought it was only befitting to embark on one that would serve as a permanent remembrance of our brave soldiers. Future generations need to know about the ultimate sacrifice they have made on our behalf, so that we may enjoy relative peace," said Shylee Someshwar, Chair of the CMOHC organization, in a press release.
CBC News reports that, since 2002, 133 Canadian soldiers have died serving in Afghanistan. This Monument is being built in order to provide a permanent place of remembrance for Canadians to appreciate today, as well as to inform future generations of the Canadian war effort in Afghanistan.
Similar to the Remembrance Day Ceremonies last week, this Monument can be seen as a way of paying tribute to the current Canadian generation's war effort. The way Canadians are exposed to war and its effects today is much different than that of the First and Second World Wars.
Senior Royal Canadian Legion official, Robert Butt, tells reporters that, "We've only got one First World War vet left […] the big change is that they're bringing bodies home. It's there on TV for everybody to see."
Whether or not there is a support or an opposition to Canadian troops being in Afghanistan, this Monument is something that all Canadians should be able to agree on.
"Families of the fallen soldiers, the armed forces, survivors, dignitaries from the government, will attend the April 10 event. It will also be open to the public at large," as stated by the CMOHC's press release.
"The families who are left behind should have some comfort that prayers will be done daily for the souls of their loved ones. They can join us for a special prayer of their own faith as well", said Dr. Budhendra Doobay, the President of the CMOCH organization.
A similar monument paying tribute to Canadian soldiers who have fallen in Afghanistan was unveiled in New Brunswick on Oct. 18.
Laurie Greenslade, a mother of a soldier killed by a roadside bomb told reporters, "I would like [Canadians] to remember the sacrifice of our young soldiers and also past wars and conflicts, the vets and what they've gone through, what it means to be a Canadian and that we should be proud".
The Memorial Monument to be unveiled Apr. 10, 2010 in Richmond Hill will hopefully become the centre for prayers and respects from the public, as well as from the families of the fallen soldiers that it commemorates.
In addition to the promotion of world peace, the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization (CMOHC) organization "is the first knowledge-based museum dedicated to showcasing the essence of Hinduism in North America. Its objective is to engage, educate and entertain visitors of all ages, especially school and university students", as stated in a press release.
"CMOHC has undertaken several initiatives dedicated to world peace and we thought it was only befitting to embark on one that would serve as a permanent remembrance of our brave soldiers. Future generations need to know about the ultimate sacrifice they have made on our behalf, so that we may enjoy relative peace," said Shylee Someshwar, Chair of the CMOHC organization, in a press release.
CBC News reports that, since 2002, 133 Canadian soldiers have died serving in Afghanistan. This Monument is being built in order to provide a permanent place of remembrance for Canadians to appreciate today, as well as to inform future generations of the Canadian war effort in Afghanistan.
Similar to the Remembrance Day Ceremonies last week, this Monument can be seen as a way of paying tribute to the current Canadian generation's war effort. The way Canadians are exposed to war and its effects today is much different than that of the First and Second World Wars.
Senior Royal Canadian Legion official, Robert Butt, tells reporters that, "We've only got one First World War vet left […] the big change is that they're bringing bodies home. It's there on TV for everybody to see."
Whether or not there is a support or an opposition to Canadian troops being in Afghanistan, this Monument is something that all Canadians should be able to agree on.
"Families of the fallen soldiers, the armed forces, survivors, dignitaries from the government, will attend the April 10 event. It will also be open to the public at large," as stated by the CMOHC's press release.
"The families who are left behind should have some comfort that prayers will be done daily for the souls of their loved ones. They can join us for a special prayer of their own faith as well", said Dr. Budhendra Doobay, the President of the CMOCH organization.
A similar monument paying tribute to Canadian soldiers who have fallen in Afghanistan was unveiled in New Brunswick on Oct. 18.
Laurie Greenslade, a mother of a soldier killed by a roadside bomb told reporters, "I would like [Canadians] to remember the sacrifice of our young soldiers and also past wars and conflicts, the vets and what they've gone through, what it means to be a Canadian and that we should be proud".
The Memorial Monument to be unveiled Apr. 10, 2010 in Richmond Hill will hopefully become the centre for prayers and respects from the public, as well as from the families of the fallen soldiers that it commemorates.
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