Two young soldiers were laid to rest in their home provinces in Atlantic Canada on Wednesday, far from the war-torn land where they lost their lives.
Hundreds of mourners gathered Wednesday morning at a church in St. John's, N.L. to remember Sgt. Donald Lucas, one of six soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Easter Sunday.
His wife, son and daughter held hands while rows of military personnel stood at attention and saluted Lucas.
He was described as a well-respected and highly regarded soldier by Brig.-Gen. Rick Parsons, The Canadian Press reports.
Lucas' funeral was the first of six that will be held this week.
Cpl. Aaron Williams' funeral was held Wednesday in Perth-Andover, N.B. Col. Ryan Jestin, base commander at Gagetown, said it's difficult to come to terms with the youth of the slain soldiers.
"I believe that these deaths have not been in vain," Jestin said following the funeral for Williams.
"The families all told me their sons were doing what they wanted to do. We're trying to make the world a better place and you can't ask for a better legacy than that."
In an email to CTV's Canada AM, Williams' friend Jameson Ferguson, reflected on the tragedy.
"Proud. That is how I remember Aaron Williams. He was proud to be a soldier and to be fighting for his country. He never questioned his mission," he said.
"Aaron was only 23 and had his whole life ahead of him with a little girl and plans to marry in the fall. He gave all that for us and we could never thank him enough for that."
He said Williams was someone "who loved his family, hockey, hunting and his motorcycle. He was popular and the type of friend who was always there for you no matter what."
"Aaron we love you and you will be missed."
Both soldiers were members of the 2nd battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, N.B.
On Thursday, Pte. David Greenslade will be buried in his hometown of Saint John, N.B., and Pte. Kevin Kennedy of St. Lawrence, N.L., will be buried in St. Mary's in eastern Newfoundland. Services will be held Friday for Cpl. Brent Poland in Sarnia, Ont., and for Master Cpl. Christopher Stannix in Halifax.
Their deaths mark the largest single-day casualty toll for Canadians in Afghanistan.
Funeral arrangements for Pentland and Stewart have not been made yet.
The soldiers were killed on April 7 when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Three days later, two other Canadian soldiers, Patrick Pentland and Master Cpl. Allan Stewart, both of New Brunswick, were killed in a similar attack
The Atlantic Canada death toll is a symbol of how heavy a contribution the region is making to the mission in Afghanistan.
Since early 2002, 53 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan.
With files from The Canadian Press
