On October 18, 2026, the Latin American Remembrance Ceremony brought together veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, diplomats, cadets, families and community representatives at the National Military Cemetery.
With Brazil recognized as this year’s host nation, the ceremony honoured Canadians of Latin American heritage who have served Canada and remembered those who lost their lives. It also reinforced a shared responsibility: to ensure their contributions remain part of Canada’s military story.
Behind every name is a person, a family and a life shaped by service. Recognizing these individual stories helps us understand the many communities that have contributed to the country we share.
A Shared Commitment to Service
Organized with the Latin American Soldiers Committee, the ceremony connected military traditions with personal and community remembrance.
The Last Post, two minutes of silence, the Rouse and the piper’s Lament offered time to reflect on those who died, those who returned carrying visible and invisible wounds, and the families whose lives have been shaped by military service.
Participants were also invited to hold in their thoughts the Canadian Armed Forces members lost at CFB Wainwright, their loved ones, colleagues, and the wider military and veteran community.
The ceremony featured remarks from Colonel Daniel Santos, Brazilian Defence Attaché; Major-General Patrick Lemyre, representing the Chief of the Defence Staff; Captain Rey Garcia-Salas; and Giuseppe Marconi of the Latin American Soldiers Committee. Their participation underscored the connections between service, community and the preservation of military history.
Wreaths offered on behalf of Canada, Brazil, the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and the Latin American community expressed a common gratitude. An In Memoriam wreath acknowledged the personal loss that lies at the heart of remembrance.
Carrying Remembrance Across Generations
The participation of cadets gave the ceremony a clear connection to the future.
Through readings in English, French and Spanish, veterans and young people expressed a shared commitment to remembering those who served. The different languages reflected the communities gathered together, while carrying the same message of respect and gratitude.
For the cadets, remembrance also represented a responsibility: to learn the stories, speak the names and preserve the legacy of previous generations through their own service to others.
At the National Military Cemetery, that responsibility takes on particular meaning. Every headstone offers an opportunity to discover a life and understand its place in our shared history.
A Poem of Gratitude and Remembrance
A recitation from a youth from the Embassy of Brazil offered another way to reflect on service and sacrifice. The Portuguese poem speaks of enduring honour, gratitude to veterans and the responsibility inherited by those who follow.
The full poem appears below in its original Portuguese, followed by the English and French translations provided for the commemoration.
The author is unknown, and no official title has been confirmed. “Veteranos da Pátria” is an unofficial commemorative title.
Veteranos da Pátria
Autor desconhecido
Cala-se agora o eco das velhas missões,
Fica a memória viva no peito das nações.
A farda que guardam já não veste o corpo cansado,
Mas a honra que carregam mantém o dever sagrado.
Aos que tombaram na noite, a nossa eterna saudade,
Aos que aqui estão conosco, a nossa gratidão de verdade.
Veteranos da Pátria, o vosso combate terminou,
Descansai em paz, que a vossa guarda nos ficou.
Veterans of the Nation
Unknown author – English translation
Now falls silent the echo of missions long past,
Yet their memory lives on in the hearts of nations.
The uniform they once wore no longer clothes their weary bodies,
But the honour they carry preserves their sacred duty.
To those who fell in the darkness, our eternal remembrance,
To those who remain among us, our heartfelt gratitude.
Veterans of our nation, your battle has come to an end,
Rest in peace, for the watch you kept is now ours to carry.
Les vétérans de la Patrie
Auteur inconnu – Traduction française
Désormais s’éteint l’écho des missions d’autrefois,
Mais leur mémoire demeure vivante au cœur des nations.
L’uniforme qu’ils portaient ne revêt plus leurs corps fatigués,
Mais l’honneur qu’ils portent perpétue leur devoir sacré.
À ceux qui sont tombés dans la nuit, notre éternel souvenir,
À ceux qui sont encore parmi nous, notre profonde gratitude.
Vétérans de la Patrie, votre combat est désormais terminé,
Reposez en paix, car la garde que vous avez assurée nous revient maintenant.
Their Stories Belong to All of Us
The poem’s closing words speak to the purpose of the gathering: those who follow inherit a duty to remember.
Beechwood thanks the Latin American Soldiers Committee, the Embassy of Brazil, veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, cadets, musicians, families and all participants who contributed to this commemoration.
The service of Canadians of Latin American heritage is part of Canada’s history. By learning their stories and sharing them with the next generation, we help ensure their legacy endures.
We will remember them.
Nous nous souviendrons d’eux.
Los recordaremos.
8Photo credit: Richard Lawrence Photography
