On August 9, 1974, Canada experienced its greatest loss of life when nine Canadian peacekeeping soldiers were killed.

Syrian missiles shot down their plane during a resupply mission in the Middle East.

Nearly 40 years later, in 2008, National Peacekeepers Day was celebrated.

On Tuesday, a military parade was held in the Waterloo area to honor those who fought and continue to struggle to maintain international peace.

The sergeant said: "I have always said it is not an easy tour or an easy mission to ever come back to Canadian soil because you never know when the last day will be."

John Champion, a sergeant, served in Kosovo twenty-two years ago. Nearly 40,000 Canadian peacekeeping soldiers served in combating violent unrest in the Balkans and helping to maintain peace, security, and stability.

The sergeant worked as a police officer as part of a United Nations mission. He says it is a difficult mission to play the role of umpire amid so much unrest.

The sergeant said, "With the United Nations, you usually go to a country completely different from your own, so it is a cultural shock when you first arrive there, trying to work according to the rule of law that the locals do not."

Wreaths were placed on the memorial to remember their heroism, which history will immortalize forever.