Thousands packed a hall at New Brunswick's CFB Gagetown to remember the sacrifice of eight Canadian soldiers killed earlier this month in Afghanistan.
"Today we gather here at CFB Gagetown to demonstrate our solidarity and pay our respects," said Col. Ryan Jestin, the first to speak during Wednesday's service.
"As a community comprised of both civilians and military we remember our fallen heroes and their families. I thank you for attending this memorial service and hope it brings some healing to the many who have been impacted by all of our losses. To the families we commit to support them today, tomorrow and forever."
Large portraits of the eight stood at the front of the hall, with a huge Canadian flag overhead.
The arrival of the eight families caused a hush to fall over the crowd.
"As we've learned in the days since this tragic loss, they were more than just courageous men, committed to a dangerous mission," Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, who is also a New Brunswick MP, told the crowd.
"They were deeply loved fathers and husbands, deeply loved sons and brothers. They were loyal friends and dedicated comrades. They were and they remain our truest heroes."
Later on, seven soldiers in Afghanistan paid brief tributes to the fallen via a video link-up.
"I knew them all quite well, and I'm sorry," said one soldier. "They will be missed."
Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the army's chief of land staff, echoed that sentiment and thanked the families and soldiers for their sacrifice.
"Your country and your army are asking a lot of you these days," he said in French.
"The mission is Afghanistan is difficult and we all have to make a lot of sacrifices. But later, when people will look at this mission, they will see that Canadian soldiers made a great difference.
"Our soldiers will have helped Afghans to build their broken country and to build up their broken lives."
An aboriginal drum ceremony also formed part of the service.
A difficult week
Wednesday's event marks the end of a week of funerals and private grieving.
Last week, individual funerals were held for Trooper Patrick James Pentland and Master Cpl. Allan Stewart. Both men were killed on April 11 when the light-armoured vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb near Kandahar.
Pentland and Stewart served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, based at CFB Petawawa.
Funerals were also held for the six soldiers killed on Easter Sunday by a roadside bomb that struck their light-armoured vehicle.
Cpl. Brent Poland, Master Cpl. Christopher Stannix, Sgt. Donald Lucas, Cpl. Aaron Williams, Pte. Kevin Kennedy and Pte. David Greenslade were buried in their home provinces in Atlantic Canada and Ontario.
The six soldiers were all members of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at CFB Gagetown.
Shelley Hillier, deployment co-ordinator at the Military Family Resource Centre at CFB Gagetown, said the community is coping under sad circumstances.
"It's been difficult days the past couple of weeks but overall our families here are holding up pretty well," she told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.
"We have prepared for things like this but all the preparations in the world never completely prepare families for the events of the past couple of weeks."
A ninth soldier, 25-year-old Anthony Klumpenhower with elite special forces, died last week after falling from a communications tower in an accident.
Since 2002, 54 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan.
With files from The Canadian Press
