Cancer Foundation Blog

This Christmas, spare a thought - and a prayer - for the more than 3,000 men and women serving Canada in almost 24 countries around the world. They're on duty at sea, in the air, on the desert, in the hills, so that we may truly celebrate this season.
The best Christmas of my life was spent three years ago, in Afghanistan, with more than two thousand troops of the Canadian military. General Rick Hillier, a fellow Newfoundlander, made it his goal to shake hands and say thank you to every man and woman serving Canada in Afghanistan and the Persain Gulf. A group of us - comedian Rick Mercer, singer songwriter Damhanait Doyle, actor Mary Walsh, the Montreal rock group Jonas, and three high ranking Conservative Mps - John Baird, Jay Hill, and Laurie Hawn - joined him in bringing support from home. It was amazing.
On the front lines, General Hillier and his staff served the holiday meal, warily eying across the dusty fields for Taliban. In the camp, more than one thousand of them were served turkey dinners that day by their commanding officers, including General Hillier. Our troupe performed - a la Bob Hope - to offer some joy on this Christmas so far from home. Because it's a war zone, all the soldiers at the concert - and at dinner - keep their guns at their side. I remember telling Mercer, "you'd better be funny - they've all got guns if you;re not!" He was.
While all of them wished they could be with their loved ones, none complained about being on mission. On board HMCS Ottawa, it was overwhelming to join Damhanait as she and the 250 soldiers on board - sand O Canada, an Iranian plane watching overhead. In Kandahar, I wished one officer a Merry Christmas...he looked up and asked, is it Christmas Day yet?
All through the camp, you could see the letters and notes and banners sent by supporting Canadians back home. I ever found one signed at the Ottawa EX by the CTV crew that summer. The troops treasure the words from home. They strongly beleive in what they're doing there - and fear that back in Canada, the support may be slipping.
They kept thanking us for giving up our Christmas to be there with them. Oh, we didn't give up anything - and we got so much in return.
Merry Christmas - across the miles. And thanks for our freedoms.