Nova Scotia is marking a sombre anniversary.
Two years ago a Canadian military helicopter crashed into the Ionian sea off the coast of Greece, killing six Canadian Armed Forces members.
The CH-148 Cyclone had been travelling with HMCS Fredericton as part of NATO training mission “Operation Reassurance” when it went down on April 29, 2020.
Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, Capt. Kevin Hagen, Capt. Brenden MacDonald, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke and Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins all died in the incident.
MacDonald, Pyke, and Cowbrough all called Nova Scotia home.
Clockwise from top left: Capt. Kevin Hagen, Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, Capt. Brenden Ian MacDonald, Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin. (SOURCE: Department of National Defence)
Local politicians have taken to social media to remember the lives lost.
Darrell Samson, the Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook, reminds Nova Scotians the tragedy took place just days after the Nova Scotia Mass Shooting.
“Today marks the sombre two-year anniversary of the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash in the Ionian Sea, which claimed the lives of all six Canadian Armed Forces members on board including three from Nova Scotia,” Samson says in a Facebook post. “Among them was our own Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough based out of 12 Wing Shearwater. Just 11 days before the crash, she was seen by many Canadians piping “Amazing Grace” in a video from the ship’s deck as a tribute to the mass shooting in Nova Scotia.”
“To the families and friends of those we’ve lost, our thoughts are with you on this difficult day” Fraser says in a Facebook post. “To those men and women in uniform who will not return home – thank you for your service. We are forever indebted to your sacrifice, and we will always remember your legacy.”
The crash marked the largest loss of life in one day for the Canadian Armed Forces.
