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The Canadian Forces confirmed Thursday evening on Facebook that it had held a dedication service at the new Afghanistan Memorial Hall at the National Defence Headquarters (Carling) in the west end of Ottawa. But that happened three days earlier on May 13. “The event was attended by senior Canadian military leadership and Department management,” according to the Facebook posting.

No press release was issued. The decision was made by officials to keep the event quiet and only to release the news via Twitter and Facebook at a later date. Families of the fallen were not invited to the dedication ceremony.

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No explanation has been provided for the decision to delay the announcement or limit the publicity, other than it was an official decision.

“The importance of this hall for the families of the Fallen, as well as Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence members, cannot be understated,” Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance noted in the Facebook posting. “We must maintain the memories of those who fell, and those who returned, from Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. We will remember them.”