Article content

By Lee Berthiaume

OTTAWA — The Canadian flag over Kandahar airfield was lowered for the last time Thursday, marking an end to one of the longest and most complicated military operations in this country’s history.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Canadian flag lowered for the last time at Kandahar airfield Back to video

The 1,200 troops charged with closing the camp that served as the nerve-centre of Canada’s mission over the past six years held a parade to commemorate the occasion. The flag was carefully folded and placed in a safe box for its return home with the last of the Canadian soldiers to leave Kandahar on Dec. 12.

Lt.-Gen. Stu Beare said it was appropriate that the ceremony was held almost 10 years to the day that the first Canadian soldier set foot in the southern Afghan province as part of a U.S. unit.“You have a range of emotions,” Beare told Postmedia News from Kandahar when asked for his thoughts on the closure. “The nostalgia of a decade of experiences and also the knowledge that we won’t be coming back here to serve.”