With outstretched arms and big smiles, the last 94 Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan returned home to their loved ones Tuesday.
Inside an Ottawa hangar, dozens of emotional reunions unfolded as soldiers hugged and kissed their spouses, children and family members.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic 鈥� it鈥檚 great to be back,鈥� Maj. Gen. Dean Milner told CTV鈥檚 Mercedes Stephenson. 鈥淭he troops are looking forward to seeing their families.鈥�
Amid the tears and laughter, Prime Minister Stephen Harper declared a National Day of Honour on May 9, when the Canadian Forces鈥� service and sacrifice in Afghanistan will be commemorated.
鈥淲elcome home and job well done,鈥� Harper told the troops at a welcoming ceremony after they stepped off a C-17 transport plane, escorted by fighter jets.
鈥淵ou have brought to a close the longest active military engagement in military history,鈥� Harper said.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson said Afghanistan was 鈥渁 tough teacher, and it taught us a lot.鈥�
He said the mission has prepared the Canadian Forces for 鈥渇uture challenges鈥� and vowed to 鈥渃ontinue taking good care鈥� of those who were injured in Afghanistan.
Since the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan began 12 years ago, 158 soldiers have lost their lives. One diplomat, one journalist and two civilian contractors were also killed.
The last group of returning soldiers was part of a training mission to beef up security forces in the war-ravaged country.
Although 鈥渕ore work needs to be done,鈥� Milner said Tuesday that a 鈥渧ery confident and capable Afghan force鈥� is now in charge.
鈥淚 feel quite confident that they鈥檙e now moving in the right direction, progress-wise,鈥� he said.
From 2001 to 2013, Canada spent $1.65 billion on reconstruction and development in Afghanistan. The government has said that it will continue to stay 鈥渆ngaged鈥� in the country鈥檚 progress.
NATO鈥檚 combat forces are also scheduled to leave Afghanistan at the end of the year, but member nations have promised $4.1 billion a year in funding for the country鈥檚 security forces.
