Tears fell and flags flew at half-mast on the Coast in honour of one of our own, 22-year-old Robert Costall, who died serving his country near Kandahar, Afghanistan on Tuesday.
According to statements from the Department of National Defence, Costall was killed and three other Canadian soldiers were injured when insurgents attacked a coalition outpost with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire in the northern Helman province, approximately 110 km northwest of Kandahar on March 28.
Costall grew up on the Coast. He was based in Edmonton with the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry where he lived with his partner Chrissy Hazard and his infant son.
While growing up on the Coast, Costall attended Gibsons Elementary School, Elphinstone Secondary and Chatelech Secondary, finishing his schooling at the Gibsons Alternate Program in 2002.
Sally Thicke, Alternative School principal, said her students were greatly grieving Costall's death Wednesday morning.
"Robert would come back to the Coast every Christmas to visit his parents and he'd always make a point to come and see us here at the Alternative School," said Thicke. "He would talk to our students about choices and life in the military and he was always very respectful to staff and encouraging to the students the kids looked up to him as someone who had really made something of himself."
Thicke said that during his 2005 Christmas visit, Costall talked to students about deciding whether to serve with his regiment in Afghanistan.
"He was wrestling with this life decision and he shared with the kids his struggles around the decision he had to make," Thicke said. "It's really hit home for our students now, the depth of the choice he was trying to make. We certainly appreciate that he shared that piece of his journey with us."
School counsellors were called in to help grieving students cope with the news of Costall's death. School District No. 46 asked that all schools fly their flags at half-mast in honour of Costall.
"The flags are a way to let our students know we honour Robert's life. It's more of a public statement that our entire community is in mourning," Thicke said.
Gordon O'Connor, Minister of National Defence, issued a statement to the media Wednesday.
"We mourn today the death of Private Robert Costall who fell while defending his comrades when insurgents attacked them last night there is no greater loss to a family and friends than that of a loved one my heartfelt thoughts and sympathies are with his family today," O'Connor wrote.
Costall has family on the Coast. The family had no comment to Coast Reporter when contacted Wednesday morning.
