Canada's long decade of fighting in the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan is nearly over. Almost all the combat troops have returned, and the last group is scheduled to be home by mid-August. 950 troops are expected to remain in Kabul for another three years as part of a training mission. Today on The Current, we remember some of the 157 Canadians killed serving in Afghanistan including the story of Private Cushley, told by his parents.

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Today's guest host was Jim Brown.

Part One of The Current

Satire

It's Friday July 29th.

NATO says it will continue bombing Moammar Gadhafi's forces as long as needed and that the Libyan leader can't "wait us out."

Maybe not ... but I'm guessing he can spend years trying.

This is the Current.

A Family Remembers Private Cushley

The Canadians killed in Afghanistan were men and women, some barely out of their teens, some seasoned soldiers. Some had done more than one tour, others were barely into their first. One of those young men was Private William Jonathan James Cushley of Port Lambton, Ontario. He served with First Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment based in Petawawa, Ontario.

The Current's producer Naheed Mustafa visited Private Cushley's parents to bring you the story of their son.

Here is a list of Fallen Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan

Portraits of Honour Mural: Dave Sopha

Four other soldiers died in the battle that killed Private Cushley. The firefights, the ambushes, the roadside bombs were all part of a lethal storm that would eventually take the lives of 157 men and women wearing the Maple leaf on their shoulders.

One artist believes the troops deserve a memorial that's more personal than a list of names on a cenotaph. So far, Dave Sopha has painted the faces of 155 of those servicemen and women in a mural that's currently touring the country. It's called Portraits of Honour. He was in Kamloops, B.C.

For a tour schedule visit Portraits Of Honour. Proceeds from the tour will aid the Military Families Fund, as well as Military Families Resource Centres across the country.

Related Links:

• Portraits honour sacrifice By Chad Gibson - Lloydminster Meridian Booster
• Governor General of Canada to Unveil Mural and Launch National Tour to Honour Canada's Fallen Heroes (PDF)

Other segment from today's show:

• WWII Stories of Canadian Veterans (Documentary)