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Davnet Presskit |
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Dec 26, 2006 Troops make best of holiday far from home But there was entertainment from comedians Rick Mercer and Mary Walsh, singer Damhnait Doyle and rock band Jonas, a Christmas dinner with all the fixings and a phone call from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Even though they were away from friends and family, the men and women of the Canadian Forces spending Christmas in Kandahar made the best of it. Warrant Officer Reg McDonald was doing his best to make his room feel a little more like home. He had Christmas presents from his wife and relatives along with a small tree, decorations and holiday music. "Only thing missing is my wife and kids," the 24-year Canadian Forces veteran told The Chronicle Herald by e-mail. "I would prefer to be home with them, but you learn to make do with what you have or don’t have." Mr. McDonald said this deployment has been going "pretty fast" but he lost a few friends this time around, the first time anyone he knew had been killed during an operation. "That has been hard," he said. "We all seem to bounce back and continue on with the mission. I think there will be more grieving once we return back home and this all sinks in." Still, he has "never been so proud to be a Canadian as I am right now serving my country here in Afghanistan." That sentiment was shared by the other Forces personnel contacted by e-mail. Even though they had to be away from their families for Christmas, they said they felt proud to be doing their bit to help stamp out terrorism and bring about a more open, fairer democracy in the war-shattered country. Master Warrant Officer Mike Henwood is trying not to dwell on missing Christmas with his family, but "you can’t help remember the good times you would be having, as well as how it affects others by you not being there." "Some of the things I miss are picking out a tree with my daughter and the hot chocolate afterwards, my wife decorating and her wondering if we got enough for everyone," says the chief investigator of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service. "The saving grace is that a celebration of my homecoming will make up for the hardship, and I can explain how worthwhile my being here really was." At least Cpl. Lisa St-Onge and Master Seaman Heith Klaassen have half of their family in Kandahar. The married couple say they spent part of the day together and with their co-workers. Their two sons are home in Canada. "We appreciate our time together and try to take each day as it comes," the pair said. The work continues in Kandahar, even on Christmas Day. While troops back at the base were enjoying a Christmas dinner, those out in the field were also to get a hot festive feast. "For us, Christmas Day is business as usual," said Capt. Paul Anderson. They were to be loading and unloading large aircraft and inspecting and preparing the new vehicles for work in Afghanistan. But as comfortable and as enjoyable Canada’s soldiers try to make the season in southern Afghanistan, it’s just not home. Maj. Christian Lillington peppered his e-mail with references to home — he says the weather’s like Labour Day weekend in the Cape Breton Highlands — and he yearns for turkey as prepped by his grandmother Bernice or stepmother Gaye. "Now that’s impossible to replicate," he said. Most of these men and women will be returning to Canada in February or March. And they say they can’t wait to get home. "For now, I’m just waiting to get back to have my traditional lobster feed," Master Warrant Officer Henwood said. "Being at home and being a couch potato will be fine with me!" ( rconrad@herald.ca) | ||||
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