Dates of Afghanistan conflict won’t be added to front of Halifax cenotaph

The dates of the war in Afghanistan will not be added to front the cenotaph at Grand Parade.

On Tuesday, regional council voted against rescinding a motion that would to keep the dates on the back of the monument.

Councillor David Hendsbee put forth a motion to rescind an earlier vote by council to have the dates of the Afghanistan conflict added to the back, and instead, have them moved to the front.

Council voted 8-7 in favour of Hendsbee's motion to rescind, but as it required 2/3 majority to pass, it didn't pass.

Councillor Waye Mason voted against as he stands by council's original motion.

“I grew up in an environment where a vacation always included a trip to a monument, battlefield, a cenotaph or a memorial,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for our military and those who served, but I believe we have consulted widely and have done the right thing.”

Tuesday's outcome did not sit well with Scott Timpa, a former corporal and an Afghan war veteran, who told NEWS 95.7 this shows council doesn't value veterans of the Afghanistan war.

“For some of these councillors to say that it's going to take away from World War I and World War II, what they're basically saying is our service was less important and we don't matter,” said Timpa.

More than 40,000 Canadians served in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014.

A total of 158 Canadian Armed Forces members and seven Canadian civilians were killed.