Dead Canadian soldier's ramp ceremony held

A ramp ceremony was held at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan to bid farewell to a Canadian soldier who was killed on Saturday when an improvised explosive device went off while he was on foot patrol in the Panjwaii districtin Kandahar province.

Pallbearers carried the casket of Cpl. Steve Martin, 24,across the moonlit tarmac late Sunday and loaded it onto a military aircraft asa piper's skirl pierced the chilly midnight air.

Martin, who would have turned 25 on Mondayandwas serving with the1st Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment from the Canadian Forces base in Valcartier, Que., was killed when thebomb exploded near a major road construction project in an isolated region.

The areahad fallen back under Taliban control and had only been secured again by the coalition in recent months.

Martin, on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, had arrived three weeks ago to conduct security operations in Panjwaii, saidBrig.-Gen. Dean Milner, commander of Canada's Task Force Kandahar.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the fallen soldier during this difficult time," Milner said. "We will not forget the sacrifice of this soldier as we continue to bring security and hope to the people of Kandahar province."

Martinwas from St-Cyrille-de-Wendover, near Drummondville, Que.

He was stationed in Haiti earlier this year as part of Canada's humanitarian efforts following the devastating earthquake last January. Milner described Martin as a bon vivant andsomeone who enjoyed the outdoors.

"I would like to express my deepest and most sincere condolences to the families and friends of Cpl. Steve Martin," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement issued early Sunday.

"The UN-sanctioned, NATO-led mission to Afghanistan remains a challenging one, but the Canadian Forces continues to serve and sacrifice, alongside our international partners, in order to help the Afghan people achieve security and stability following decades of conflict," MacKay said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed condolences.

"Cpl.Martin was a brave Canadian who made the ultimate sacrifice while proudly serving his country," he said."Thanks to Canadian Forces members like him, we continue to make real progress in Afghanistan, rebuilding the country and contributing to the peace and security of its people."

The last Canadian soldierto be killed in Afghanistan was Cpl. BrianPinksen, 21, who died in August when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol southwest of Kandahar.

Since 2002, 154 members of the Canadian Forces have been killed serving in the Afghanistan mission.

Four Canadian civilians have also been killed, including one diplomat, one journalist and two aid workers.