Hundreds attend Remembrance Day ceremony at CFB Borden

The sentiments of Remembrance Day are felt as strongly at military bases as anywhere else, which was the case at CFB Borden’s annual November 11 ceremony at Legacy Park Monday morning.

Nearly 500 were in attendance, including around 300 troops, to honour the legacy of those who serve and those who sacrificed their lives.

“We are with family. So, it’s just really nice here in Borden because we get to be in a community that is very welcoming of us,” said Capt. Leyla Bilgi-Bérard, a critical care nurse officer for the Canadian Forces. “They acknowledge some of the sacrifices, and some of the commitment that it takes to be in the military.”

Capt. Bilgi-Bérard led Monday’s ceremony, which included all of the Remembrance Day formalities, which included a special welcome for Base Commander Col. Melissa Ramessar.

• Photo Gallery | Remembrance Day ceremonies across the region

The bars of The Last Post and two minutes of silence were broken by the traditional firings of the base’s artillery canons.

There were more than two dozen wreaths laid, as troops thought of their fellow soldiers lost in battle.

“Thinking of the friends I lost in Afghanistan,” said MWO William Black from the Canadian Forces. MWO Black has been in the military for almost 30 years, serving on missions in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Poland and Ukraine among others.

“Remembrance Day is a big deal,” added MWO Black. “It’s a lot, especially for those of us that have been on combat operations or peacekeeping operations.”

Stuart Beaton, 93, served for more than 40 years, reaching the ranks of lieutenant-colonel for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“All these folks that passed away have to be remembered,” stated Beaton. “Because there’s one thing, freedom - that’s what we have and we’re trying to keep.”

CFB Borden also sent more than a thousand additional troops to Remembrance Day events across the region on Monday.

The Base’s next remembrance event will be for Vimy Ridge Day in April.