It's an honour that no mother wants.

The Silver Cross Mother medal, also known as the Memorial Cross, is awarded to a mother, widow, widower or the next of kin of a member of the Canadian Forces who is killed in action. 

Leona Stock lost her son Sapper Stephan Stock in 2008 in Afghanistan.

He was killed, along with three others, when a roadside bomb was detonated near the light armoured vehicle he was travelling in. 

Stock says "To us it's important that Stephan is never forgotten. On Remembrance Day that's the big focus is on veterans and the fallen, and it means a lot to us that he is remembered."

"Stephan was 25 when he was killed. He was a Combat Engineer and he was based out of Edmonton. He went over to Afghanistan in Feb. 2008 and was killed on Aug. 20, 2008."

Stock says her son loved his job. 

"He really enjoyed the army. He loved the physical part of it and the friends that he made there. He was a very compassionate, caring person and had really good friends, and he was really close to his brother who is only 14 months younger."

She says Remembrance Day is the hardest day for her family because it's when they focus on remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty. 

Stock will be laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Cochrane on Wednesday. 

"It's something you don't want to have to do, but it's nice to be representing all of the mothers that have lost children in the army or the forces, and it means a lot to be doing that in Stephan's name."

Stock and her family, along with several other families who lost someone, had the opportunity to go to Afghanistan to see where Stephan served. 

"We were back for Remembrance Day in 2009 and we were with seven other families. Just being with the families that understood our loss, that was really huge."

"It was really healing for us and just being with other families, just talking about our loss."

Stock still spends time with the families she met who also lost sons or daughters. 

"We have had quite a few retreats with just mothers and then with families and they all understand what you're going through. One minute you're laughing, and the next minute you're crying. We just do it and then go on, it's very healing."