In a tearful ceremony last Friday, the Wall of Heroes was unveiled in honour of the 144 Canadians who have died in the war in Afghanistan.
The wall, at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Esquimalt branch, is the culmination of almost four months’ work by the branch’s general manager, Doug Grant.
“There were times I had to stop what I was doing and just reminisce about the families who lost someone,” Grant said at the Feb. 18 presentation.
A framed picture and biography of each soldier who has died hangs on the Legion wall, along with a pair of crosses and a poppy bouquet.
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, who helped unveil the wall with Grant and CFB Esquimalt base administration officer Cmdr. Doug MacKeen, said she hopes the wall becomes a destination for those who want to pay their respects.
“We are a military community ... we’re very sensitive to the military and what’s happening to the military,” she said. “There are a lot of army roots here.”
The legion is at 622 Admirals Rd.
ecardone@vicnews.com