People stood on bridges from Trenton to Toronto to pay respects to late Sebastian Halmagean, who died in Latvia

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The snow was falling as hard as the tears that were flowing. 

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It’s never easy to bring back one of your troops who died representing Canada overseas.

The one thing everybody out on this cold February day on the Highway of Heroes had in common is they wanted to make sure Gunner Sebastian Halmagean’s family understood that they are not alone in grieving his death or appreciating his service to the country. 

This repatriation ceremony sent that message loud and clear. 

“It brings back a lot of memories,” said Maple resident Mark Silver, a retired master corporal who served in the Canadian military from 1977 to 1985 in places like Syria. 

He had friends who died while on tour and he stood at similar ceremonies like what Halmagean’s fellow Royal Canadian Artillery members faced at CFB Trenton when a airplane landed from Latvia carrying his casket.

“You don’t forget this stuff,” said Silver. “There are so many dreams unfulfilled. Some much life that they didn’t get to live.” 

He had to be there to honour this 24-year-old from Hamilton, who died on Jan. 29 near Riga after serving three years in the........

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