Four Canadian soldiers and a journalist who died in a bomb blast in Afghanistan are on their way home after a solemn ramp ceremony Friday at Kandahar airfield.

Thousands of soldiers stood at attention in the sun to watch the caskets loaded onto a transport plane, as a lone piper played.

The casket of Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang was carried by five Canadian soldiers, one U.S. soldier and two Canadian diplomats ahead of the four slain soldiers: Sgt. George Miok, 28, and Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, both of Edmonton; Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, of Yarmouth, N.S.; and Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21, of Cambridge, Ont. All were members of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The group had been travelling in the outskirts of Kandahar city Wednesday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Four other Canadian soldiers and a Canadian civilian official were seriously wounded.

"Wednesday, 30 December, 2009 was a dark day for Canada," said Padre Sandy Scott.

"But the light that brings life to the world will never allow the powers of darkness to overcome the light of Canadians like these."

Scott remembered Miok, who taught junior high school in Edmonton, as a soldier and friend who was always there for his comrades.

"Even in the darkest places that visit us during a mission like this, George would shine light of ingenuity, flexibility and another hopeful plan," Scott said.

McCormack, who was engaged to be married, was recalled as being a caring, "outstanding soldier," whose "tenacity made him a bigger man than his physical stature."

Taylor was remembered for his "calm demeanour," while Chidley's sense of humour was celebrated for its ability to boost morale among fellow soldiers.

Chidley, known as Chiddels, "wanted to help make a difference for the people of Afghanistan," Scott said.

He also paid tribute to Lang, whom he called a "rising star" in Canadian journalism who was committed to getting "the whole truth" and "telling stories of hope, not just pain."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai phoned Prime Minister Stephen Harper to offer his deepest condolences to the families of the dead. He also said that Canada has been a "good friend to the Afghan people."

Wednesday's attack was the most deadly incident for Canadian troops in two-and-a-half years. After almost eight weeks without a fatality, five soldiers have been killed in the last week. In total, 138 Canadian soldiers have now been killed while serving in Canada's mission in Afghanistan, which began in 2002.

With files from The Canadian Press