Victoria to remember costs of Afghanistan War

— 

Lieutenant-Colonel (ret’d) Paul Paone hopes Canadians have not forgotten the significance of March 12. 

The date commemorates the 10th anniversary of the end of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. It is a time to remember the fallen and injured and the sacrifices many men and women made on foreign soil over 13 years. 

“I hope the people of Victoria show veterans their love and support and come out and join us,” said Paone. “We want people to remember it and we don’t want Afghanistan to become known as the ‘forgotten war’, something those who served in Korea have experienced.”

Paone, a former Senior Logistics Officer in the Army, was among the last of 40,000 Canadian soldiers to board an American Chinook helicopter on March 12, 2014, and depart the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters in Kabul for the last time.

He knows he is one of the fortunate ones to serve in Afghanistan because he was left with no permanent injuries or lasting scars from his military service. Several people he knows did. He and Brigadier-General (ret’d) Joseph Gollner head the organizing committee of volunteers for this year’s anniversary commemoration.

The experience is helping jar his memories of a decade ago when he was far away from the peace and security of his home on Vancouver Island. Paone says two big takeaways stand out for him about the Afghanistan war.

“Firstly, the people of Afghanistan learned about Canadians and their values, that we can be fierce warriors and we are also trustworthy,” he said. “Secondly, 99 per cent of the population in Afghanistan desperately wanted to live in peace and most are incredibly hard-working, highly intelligent people who can adapt to anything and want only the best for their families.”

After returning from his deployment that July, Paone enrolled his son as a regular force Royal Canadian Air Force Officer in a ceremony presided over by Rear-Admiral Bill Truelove. Then, shortly after the ceremony, he retired, bringing to an end a 43-year and nine-month military career.

Today, he is retired and likes to stay connected with Victoria’s military community. He volunteers to help organize the annual Peacekeepers Day memorial each Aug. 9, as he also served in Canada’s United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Egypt in 1974.