An honour guard of local soldiers was recently presented with a special leadership award to recognize the work of all soldiers who participated in the Afghan mission.
The Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada annually hands out the Birchall Leadership award recognizing outstanding leadership and it was given to all of the soldiers of Task Force Afghanistan.
Air Commodore Leonard Birchall was a pilot during the Second World War and spotted the Japanese fleet bearing down on the Island of Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka.
Birchall’s sighting of the fleet and the warning he sent back helped Allied forces prepare for the attack, but he and his crew were shot down and captured and spent the rest of the war in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.
Birchall’s leadership continued into the camp where he advocated against the harsh conditions he and his fellow soldiers were kept in.
Colonel Omer Lavoie, one of the soldiers who accepted the award on the Task Force’s behalf at a dinner on Friday night, said he was honoured to accept it.
"This award is about leadership, and to me, Air Commodore Birchall typified the kind of leadership that is required in combat: lead from the front, share dangers and hardship with your troops and despite personal risk, accomplish the mission."
Proceeds from the dinner were donated to both the Edmonton Military Family Resource Centre and the Royal Military Colleges Foundation of Canada.
The other soldiers who accepted the award were Lt.-Col. Dave Abboud, Capt. Kurt Schweitzer, Warrant Officer David Shultz, Petty Officer 2nd class James Leith and Sgt. Michael Bursey.
Michael Hornburg accepted the award on behalf of his son Cpl. Nathan Hornburg who was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 24, 2007.
