Welcome home Canadian Forces, you are a special breed indeed
Imagine looking over your shoulder every minute of your waking life for the last 8 months in a high state of alert and anxiety against a possible threat to your or your family’s life. Imagine your workday was fraught with unpredictable circumstances, sights and sounds that none of us ever want to see or experience. Imagine trying to lower the level of anxiety and alertness at the end of your work day even though the threat hasn’t entirely disappeared as you try to get some shut eye.
That has been the state of mind that the last contingent of Canadian men and women of the Armed Forces who returned to day from Afghanistan have be in for the last 8 months and thousands before them have been in for the last 12 years
As one who has had the experience of returning from a war zone, I can assure you that ( as tough and exceptionally well trained as they are ) they didn’t exhale until the wheels of that big C-17 touched down in Ottawa this morning and the tension in their shoulders didn’t relax until their feet hit Canadian soil. the reunification with family today is overwhelming despite the extraordinary emotional discipline they possess and is required to do what they do. And trust me, you can’t even imagine what they do.
Most will be able to sleep well at home tonight, tomorrow and in the joyous summer months ahead. Others will not be so able to do so after what they have been through. The peace we all enjoy and take for granted here at home will not be as natural for some to recognize and accept. They will need help. The least we can do for them especially as government but also as friends, is to find out whatever “help” WILL “help” and to assure them at every opportunity that they are safe at home and that their personal service was not in vain even though they may feel otherwise.
Most of us are not in a position to accurately judge if the mission was worth it or met the objective, but all of us should salute and take care of the men and women of Canadian Armed Forces who answered a call that most of us wouldn’t personally consider for a second, including members of the government who committed them!
With profound respect and admiration,
Welcome home!