Spearheaded by two Langley youth, Michael and Elizabeth Pratt and their organization Langley Youth for the Fallen, A Walk to Remember at the Derek Day Arboretum commemorates the Canadian Forces personnel who lost their lives while serving in the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, 2002 – 2011. A total of 158 trees will be planted at the Arboretum, in honour of the 158 Canadians who lost their lives through the nine years of the Afghan mission.
The beginning and end of the walk are marked by Deodar Cedar trees (Cedrus deodara), a species native to eastern Afghanistan that also thrives here. This species was chosen to symbolize the connection that was forged between Canada and Afghanistan through the course of the mission.
The path is lined with columnar maple trees (Acer x freemanii ‘Armstrong’), placed to evoke soldiers marching in formation. These trees link the first three tree collections to be planted at Derek Doubleday Arboretum. The fragmented geometry of the collections represents the battalions broken by the casualties they suffered.
A Walk to Remember's central commemorative feature is symbolic of a tree whose life has been cut short. Wrapped around the trunk, a steel ribbon ascends towards the sky, carrying the names of the fallen Canadians.
