It was a bright and sunny afternoon on May 7, when Chief of Defence Staff General Tom Lawson rounded the corner onto Aird Place in Kanata, following just behind the last Canadian flag to fly in Afghanistan as the Soldier On Afghanistan relay team arrived at Dominion Command’s Legion House.

The team of 19 individuals was on a mission to carry the flag from Trenton, Ont., all the way to Parliament Hill where they would arrive on May 9 to take a starring role in the National Day of Honour ceremony to be held there.

Dominion President Gordon Moore (right) joins members of the Soldier On Afghanistan relay team at Legion House in Kanata.

PHOTO: ADAM DAY

Major Jason Feyko, the commander of the relay team, was a young lieutenant in 2003 when he deployed to Kabul as a part of Canada’s peacekeeping mission to the Afghan capital region. Though the violence back then was nothing like what it would become, the mission was not without risks. Feyko discovered these risks first-hand in late January 2004 when a suicide bomber attacked his Iltis jeep not far from the Canadian base at Camp Julien. Feyko was badly wounded and Corporal Jamie Murphy was killed. They were the first Canadian casualties caused by direct enemy action in Afghanistan, but not the last.

Running alongside Feyko on this relay were 18 other wounded Canadians, including two members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and one employee from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. While most were visibly injured—in a wheelchair, missing limbs, visibly burned—others were injured internally, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

By all accounts, the relay team enjoyed amazing public support on the run up to Kanata from Trenton. As they passed through small towns like Napanee, Perth and Westport, crowds of people lined the roads and waved flags, dozens and dozens of Legionnaires in full uniform lined the route.

Arriving at Legion House meant their run was almost done; just one more day to get down to Ottawa City Hall before arriving at their destination on Parliament Hill.

With the sun shining and a barbecue provided by Giant Tiger Stores, the reception the runners received at Dominion Command was clearly appreciated.

“We at the Legion understand the sacrifice you’ve made,” Dominion President Gordon Moore told the runners and the assembled crowd. “We pride ourselves on remembering the sacrifices made by our men and women. We care for all veterans and we want you to know you’re welcome at every Legion branch across this great country.”

Moore then presented the runners with a special Legion baseball cap given only to veterans of the war. He also presented the runners with an Inukshuk pin, a re-creation of the Inukshuk that stands in front of Legion House that was originally built and then donated by Richard and Claire Leger, who lost their son Marc Leger to a friendly-fire incident in Kandahar in 2002.

Feyko not only thanked Moore for his speech and the gifts, but went on to tell the crowd a little about his experience. “Becoming a wounded soldier is not sought by anyone,” he said. “However, I am truly blessed and fortunate to stand here today as a representative of the Soldier On Afghanistan relay, the CAF and as a proud Canadian.

“Ten years ago this past January to say I had a bad day is an understatement,” said Feyko. “My bad day is different yet similar to the bad days that each of my ill and injured peers have experienced. The one common thread is that a traumatic event has changed us and it impacted our families, our friends and our lives will never be the same again.”

With only a few dozen kilometres left to go before the last Afghan flag was to be deposited into the hands of Canada’s commander-in-chief, Governor General David Johnston on the National Day of Honour, General Lawson was suitably proud of his soldiers and what they’d accomplished.

“I’d like to thank our host, The Royal Canadian Legion, for putting on such a warm reception,” said Lawson. “The unwavering support you’ve shown them throughout their ambitious journey, starting in Trenton three days ago, where they have been welcomed not only by the people of those communities but by the Legions in those communities, it’s just such an enormous thing.”

Lawson then concluded on a note which will be sure to resonate with Legionnaires and veterans everywhere.

“So on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces I want to thank you for the solidarity you’re demonstrating this week, and that you’ve demonstrated throughout Canada’s involvement in the military engagement in Afghanistan. So although Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan has come to an end, our mission to support those who’ve become ill and injured through their service to this mission has no end date.”