The Afghanistan Memorial Forest was unveiled On November 1, 2010. It is a grassy area that extends from the Afghanistan Memorial Monument along a cement walkway. The Memorial Forest was a joint initiative between CFB Petawawa and Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. Large stones with bronze plaques are inscribed indicating the joint project between the base and the Legion.
The idea was developed about two and half years earlier when Lieutenant-Colonel Keith Rudderham, then the base commander, felt something permanent at Base Petawawa was needed to commemorate the sacrifices made by fallen soldiers in Afghanistan.
Red and white oak, as well as red and sugar maple trees were chosen for the forest and the walkway leading to the monument is lined with native ash, ironwood, linden and ginkgo trees. Each tree has a plaque bearing the name of the soldier, his or her unit, date of birth and death. Families were contacted as to the type of tree and placement within the forest that they would like in remembrance of their son or daughter.
The first tree planted was dedicated to the memory of Sapper Sean Greenfield, who was killed in Afghanistan on January 31, 2009 by an improvised explosive device west of Kandahar City.
