An icon of Canada’s war in Afghanistan is undergoing changes.
The LAV, or light-armoured vehicle, played a major role in the Afghanistan War. Now, the LAVs are being upgraded and 250 hulls will be turned into monuments.
“In parts of Afghanistan, the troops deployed to the field and they didn't leave their LAV for six months,” says New Brunswick Progressive Conservative MLA and veteran Brian MacDonald.
MacDonald did tours of duty in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Now, he is behind an effort to bring the first LAV-hull monument to Fredericton, launching a campaign Tuesday.
“It would be nice to be the first one, to show what type of base we have here, what type of men and women we have here to serve, and it'd just be very special,” says Nancy Slade, whose husband worked on a LAV during multiple tours in Afghanistan.
If Fredericton is first to get an LAV, it would then be donated to Oromocto, home to 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, and then installed at the town's cenotaph.
Ken O'Quinn's son chad was among the 158 Canadians killed during the Afghan mission. He says a LAV monument would be fitting in Oromocto.
“When people see that LAV, when they see that monument by the cenotaph, constant reminder, just a constant reminder of what Chad and the other 157 done for their country,” says O’Quinn.
The Town of Oromocto already has several retired military vehicles to commemorate the soldiers’ service and sacrifice and they're hoping to add one more.
With files from CTV's Andy Campbell
