Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson, Pte. Demetrios Diplaros, Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren, all from 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, were killed by an IED on Dec. 5, 2008. Photo: National Post
Every time we lose another soldier, it feels like I’ve lost my son one more time . . . I really feel we shouldn’t be there to begin with, so if there’s a hundred or two or three its all the same to me – they shouldn’t be there. . . . I don’t see the reason we should be losing all our young soldiers to a war. I think they should be doing peace keeping and helping more people. What’s the point of having them killed in a foreign country — for what reason – we’re not even sure what we’re doing there.
– Claire Léger, mother of Sgt. Marc Léger, one of the first Canadians to die in Afghanistan, interviewed on Global TV News, Dec. 5, 2008
These are very special people who have put their lives on the line in the service of their fellow human beings and in their devotion to our country. It is because of them now and throughout our history that we are able to celebrate our Christmas in such peace and prosperity,” Harper said. “It is because of them that we have this wonderful country. It is their gift to us.
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper, at CFB Petawawa for a previously scheduled event to launch a “Trees for the Troops” Christmas campaign, National Post, Dec. 5, 2008
I guess Madame Léger has her answer; her son and 99 other Canadian soldiers died in Afghanistan so that we could celebrate Christmas in peace and prosperity.
Bah, humbug!
Paul S. Graham 