parent of a canadian soldier

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Relatives of dead soldier question Canada's role in Afghanistan
09 Mar 2006, CBC News

The mother and aunt of a Newfoundland soldier who was killed in Afghanistan are calling on the federal government to reconsider Canada's role there.

Cpl. Jamie Murphy died in a suicide bomb attack near Kabul in January 2004. Two years later, Murphy's mother says his death still haunts her.

"I think about Jamie every second of every day," said Alice Murphy, who lives in Conception Harbour, N.L.

She said memories of her son's death are revived whenever she hears of new casualties.

"It is really hard to know that there's other guys and families in the same situation that we're in, and we are still in it, and it will never go away. Never."

So far this year, 11 Canadian soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan and two have died. As well, a bombing in Kandahar City on Jan. 15 killed Foreign Affairs official Glyn Berry.

Murphy's aunt fears for own son

Murphy's aunt, Eva Skeffington, disagrees with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision that there will be no parliamentary debate on the future of Canada's role in Afghanistan.

Skeffington's son, Dale Newbury, is a military mechanic who served in Afghanistan last year and is scheduled to head back to Kandahar in August.

More than 2,000 Canadians will be deployed near Kandahar this year, but Skeffington thinks Canada should instead be withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

"I can't imagine my son going over there and then not coming back," said Skeffington, as she fought back tears.

"They did go at first for peace and now it's war. I really don't agree with them being there. It's our sons and daughters."

While Murphy's family has opposed Canada's participation in the Afghanistan effort, others in his home community of Conception Harbour disagree.

"The troops are there. We made a commitment," said Jack Gushue, who intends to build a monument to Murphy in the small town.

"Canadians – and Newfoundlanders especially – once we commit, we are determined to do what we want to do."