CFB SHILO, Man. - Family was the dominant theme as hundreds of Afghan-bound soldiers from Manitoba were recognized Saturday at a ceremonial farewell.
Hundreds of soldiers dressed in arid-pattern combat uniforms, many accompanied by loved ones, stood shoulder-to-shoulder as Brig.-Gen. Mark Skidmore talked to the departing troops at the Shilo base.
For Master Cpl. Michael Bursey, the farewell ceremony was important to his family, especially when Skidmore approached his sons -- Noah, 9, and Damien, 6 -- after the speech.
"That was certainly the highlight for me. He took the time when he was leaving to come over,'' the medic said, an arm around each teary-eyed son.
The closer it gets to the day he leaves, it gets a little scarier and a little more daunting, says Bursey's wife Sheila.
"I've been trying to put up a brave front right from the get-go, and saying it's no big deal,'' she said, adding quickly, "and I do. It's his job.''
Because he joined the Canadian Forces after Sept. 11, 2001, she says the couple knew what they were getting into.
"We knew going in that he was joining a military that was going to war.''
And that military, Skidmore told the soldiers, is the best-prepared force Canada has produced.
"Producing world-class, war-winning teams such as yours takes a lot of hard work and co-ordination, and these formations really did an outstanding job behind the scenes to enable a transformation into the world-class mission elements you are today,'' Skidmore said.
The 2,500-person task force heading to Afghanistan is made up mostly of soldiers from Western Canada. About 400 reservists from British Columbia to northwestern Ontario will join 800 Manitoba soldiers from units including Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
More than 1,000 soldiers are from Edmonton, where Skidmore gave a speech with a similar theme Thursday -- the same day U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates tried to smooth relations with Canada after he was quoted being critical of NATO's work in Afghanistan.
Skidmore did not directly address Gates's comments, but instead offered thanks for the work the soldiers have done and the sacrifices their families have made.
"To you and your families, I offer the thanks of all Canadians for your most meaningful, personal contribution to Canada's international standing, and to our legitimacy on the world stage as a credible and respected voice in this world,'' Skidmore said.
Bursey says he tries not to pay too much attention to the politics.
"All that stuff can be saved for someone higher than me. I don't concern myself with it, and neither does my family,'' said Bursey.
Treasury Board president Vic Toews said the troops have dedicated their skills to a noble cause, and he echoed the family theme.
"Military families are the lifeblood of communities like this one, and those military families make difficult sacrifices every day,'' said the Manitoba MP.
Part of a large training complex at the Manitoba military hub was turned into a mini-carnival Saturday. Children bounced around inside inflatable structures, played video games on projector screens, and soldiers offered tours of military vehicles.
