Soldiers and members of the public paid their respect to five Canadian soldiers who recently lost their lives in Afghanistan.

The Canadian Forces exhibit at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto has been giving the public a glimpse into the daily work of soldiers serving around the world. On Monday it was also the scene of a somber memorial service.

The service honoured four soldiers killed in action on Sunday and another killed in a friendly fire incident Monday.

Five C7 rifles stood upside down in sandbags with combat helmets resting on top as a memorial to the fallen soldiers.

Poppies were placed on the sandbags as soldiers saluted and a bugler played.

"It's always a tough day when members of the Canadian Forces as a family lose family members," Capt. Wayne Johnston said. "Some of the soldiers on this site are from 2 Brigade, so it's frankly especially tough."

It was a time for spectators and soldiers alike to not only remember the fallen but also to think of those who are serving in Afghanistan.

"My heart goes out to them," Cpl. James Yates told CTV News. "I know what they are going through."

The air show brought one woman to tears.

"I think of the people overseas and what they've done for us and I think of my grandfather," she said wiping away tears.

However, not everyone present at the service expressed support for the mission.

Peace activist James Loney, who suffered a kidnap ordeal in Iraq earlier this year, joined an anti-war protest, saying that he could not watch the air show.

"The best way to support our soldiers is to work for peace," he told CTV.ca News.

More than 30 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

A similar ceremony was held at the CNE on Aug. 23 in honour of Capt. David Braun. He was killed by a suicide bomber in southern Afghanistan the day before.

With a report from CTV's MairiAnna Bachynsky and Kathy Tomlinson