As Canadians gathered on home soil to pay respects to those who served and died in current and historical conflicts, troops in Afghanistan observed Remembrance Day on a new battlefield far from home.

While Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean joined thousands of people at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, about 400 Canadian troops in Afghanistan paid tribute to the 42 comrades they have lost since 2002, and to those who sacrificed their lives in past campaigns around the world.

Canadian blood shed in Afghanistan has forged a new bond between the soldiers of today and the warriors of an earlier generation.

"This is not much different from the experience of our fathers and grandfathers who looked on the devastation of World War One and (World War) Two battlefields," Maj. Robert Lauder told troops gathered beside a monument built at the main Kandahar base to preserve the memory of each Canadian life lost in the war-torn country.

"We stand this day in the midst of life and death, and remember our friends cut down in the name of life and liberty."

While the Canadian flag flew at half-mast, soldiers observed a moment of silence in honour of those who have died.

During an emotionally-charged ceremony at a forward operating base in the Panjwaii district of southern Afghanistan, about 100 soldiers gathered for a simple but moving ceremony.

The soldiers laid a wreath at a wooden cross, and some wept as they knelt at the makeshift memorial.

The ceremonies in Afghanistan were only a brief respite from the reality of war, with troops dealing with the threat of suicide attacks and Taliban ambushes on a daily basis.

This year has been especially difficult for Canadian soldiers, with 34 killed in Afghanistan.

National War Memorial in Ottawa

In Ottawa, an estimated 25,000 people came out despite drizzling rain and overcast conditions. The prime minister was accompanied by his wife Laureen and children Ben and Rachel.

The governor-general laid the first wreath at the foot of the memorial, followed by a steady stream of people paying their respects. Later, veterans took part in the "march past," saluting the prime minister and governor general, followed by troops currently serving in the Canadian Forces.

In a statement released Saturday, Harper said Remembrance Day is a time to mourn the fallen, but also to celebrate Canada's proud military traditions.

This year's Silver Cross Mother, Alice Murphy of Conception Harbour, N.L., made the sign of the cross as she stood before the soaring granite memorial.

Muphy's son, 26-year-old Cpl. Jamie Murphy, was killed on Jan. 27, 2004, in Kabul when a suicide bomber jumped onto the hood of his jeep.

The ceremony in Ottawa was the first for Master Cpl. Paul Franklin since he lost both legs in a suicide bombing attack in January in Afghanistan.

"I'm remembering my friends how who have died over the summer and I'm looking back at all that's happened to me and my fellow wounded soldiers and what they've gone through," he said.

Tributes across Canada

Ceremonies took place across Canada throughout the day, honouring the more than 100,000 Canadian soldiers who have been killed in the past 100 years.

An especially sombre Remembrance Day ceremony took place in Truro, N.S., where more than 3,000 gathered to pay their respects. Three soldiers with ties to the town -- Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, Cpl. Christopher Reid and Sergeant Darcy Tedford -- were killed in Afghanistan in recent weeks.

The mothers of the three men held hands as they approached the cenotaph to place a wreath.

Several ceremonies were held in Edmonton to honour that city's significant sacrifice: 13 of out of 42 Canadian soldiers who've died in Afghanistan were based there.

About 3,000 people -- including Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, who just finished a nine-month tour as NATO's commander in southern Afghanistan -- attended the biggest ceremony at the University of Alberta.

"I've been back in Canada now for four days, so coming back now to remember those who didn't come back it's pretty special," Fraser said. "It touches closer to home this year than in has in previous years."

Downtown Toronto was brought to a standstill as bells rang out at the 11th hour. Aging veterans stood side by side with young people, some of whom were relatives of soldiers who've died in Afghanistan.

One veteran, Alfred Finley, a regular at the Toronto ceremony, was missed by those who saw him there every year. Finley died in May at the age of 86.

Elsewhere in Toronto, a special ceremony was held at the Ontario legislature, where the province recently unveiled a new granite memorial, depicting scenes from Canada's military history.

With reports from CTV's Steve Chao and David Akin and files from The Canadian Press