Remembrance Day for the soldiers in Afghanistan

It’ll be the pictures — 97 of them, engraved in sombre black stone on the small square in the Canadian section of Kandahar Airfield that will get many soldiers stationed in Afghanistan when they gather at the square Tuesday to mark Remembrance Day. Unfortunately Rememberance Day is not a Canadian holiday as it should. The day to remember the sacrifices of all men and women who did their part in all theatres of war have been lost on many of our politicians and some Canadians who don't get it. This is a small tribute to them. Canadian soldiers to receive medals for heroism in Afghan combat The five members of a combat team who fought their way out of an ambush in Afghanistan are among 11 soldiers to receive heroism medals from Governor General Michaëlle Jean. Members of that team have been awarded two Stars of Military Valour — the country's second-highest award for gallantry under fire — and three Medals of Military Valour for a single action last spring. The incident occurred on June 4, when a joint Canadian-Afghan patrol ran into a three-sided Taliban ambush in Zhari district, west of Kandahar. Capt. Jonathan Snyder rallied the troops to return fire, Cpl. James Ball led a team to find a way out of the ambush, while Capt. Robert Peel, Cpl. Steven Bancarz and Cpl. Cary Baker stood their ground to cover the unit's retreat. Ball and Snyder were awarded Stars of Military Valour, while Peel, Bancarz and Baker received Medals of Military Valour. Snyder died in a freak accident a few days after the ambush, falling into an open well during a night patrol on June 7. Other soldiers receiving Medals of Military Valour are Maj. Joseph Abboud, Cpl. Alexandre Dion, Master Cpl. Christopher Harding and Warrant Officer Tod Hopkin. Cpl. Bryce Keller has also been awarded the medal posthumously. He died in combat in Afghanistan on Aug. 3 2006. U.S. awards medals to Canadian soldiers Thirty Canadian soldiers received Bronze Star medals from the United States for bravery and meritorious service in Afghanistan. Pte. Richard Green, Pte. Nathan Smith, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer and Sgt. Marc Leger were killed in April 2002 when a U.S. jet dropped a bomb on them during training exercises. The American pilots say they believed they were under attack. Twenty-six other soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group also received the medals, which are presented to troops who face enemy fire. Peace, Kenaz