Honouring the Service and Sacrifice of the Latin-American Community -Remembrance Ceremony

Foto: Richard Lawrence.

By Capt. Rey GARCIA-SALAS.- Featuring Guatemala as the 2025 Host Nation / National Military Cemetery of Canada – Beechwood Cemetery / Sunday, 19 October 2025 – 11:00 a.m.

Beneath a serene autumn sky at the National Military Cemetery of Canada, dignitaries, veterans, diplomats, and families gathered for the 4th Annual Latin-American Remembrance Ceremony — a solemn and inspiring tribute to the courage, service, and sacrifice of Latin Americans who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Organized by the Latin-American Soldiers Committee (LASC) in partnership with Canadian Armed Forces, Beechwood Cemetery and the Embassy of Guatemala in Canada, this year’s event held special significance as Guatemala proudly served as the 2025 Host Nation, honouring the Guatemalan-born volunteers who stood under the banner of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War.

The ceremony began with a Traditional Land Acknowledgment by Elder Verna MacGregor of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, grounding the gathering in gratitude and respect. The National Anthems of Canada and Guatemala, performed on piano, filled the air — a harmony of freedom, remembrance, and shared purpose.

Nick McCarthy, Beechwood’s Director of Marketing, Communications and Community Outreach, welcomed attendees with heartfelt words:

“Each year, this ceremony brings together nations, communities, and families to remember the Latin-American men and women who answered Canada’s call to serve. Their courage should inspire us all to continue their mission — because freedom is not inherited; it is earned and safeguarded through courage, compassion, and conviction.”

Adding vibrant colour and tradition, members of the Centre Culturel Jaguar Ix Balam proudly wore traditional Guatemalan Indigenous attire, while members of La Casa Cultural Peruana displayed traditional Peruvian Indigenous dress. Their presence symbolized unity through culture — living proof that remembrance is not only about history but also about identity and continuity.

Representing the Embassy of Guatemala in Canada, Mr. Diego Meneses, Counsellor, delivered heartfelt remarks highlighting the deep and enduring friendship between Guatemala and Canada. He honoured four Guatemalan-born RCAF aviators whose courage and sacrifice continue to strengthen the bond between both nations.

Captain Rey Garcia-Salas, cofounder of the Latin-American Soldiers Committee and serving CAF officer, shared a moving address — the result of years of research begun in 2016 to uncover the forgotten stories of Latin-American volunteers who served across generations and continents.

He paid tribute to four Guatemalan aviators whose names are preserved in The Latin American Soldiers Remembrance Book, Volume I:

Pilot Officer Robert Theodore Hempstead, born in Cobán, who flew Spitfires over North Africa and gave his life over El Alamein in 1942.

Flying Officer Denis S. Koester, born in Guatemala City, a decorated Pathfinder navigator who later devoted his life to humanitarian work in Alta Verapaz.

Flight Lieutenant John Gordon Smith, a Guatemalan citizen who survived imprisonment and returned to rebuild his community.

Pilot Officer Mario Alfred Fernández de León, born in Guatemala City, who fell in 1944 and rests at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen-op-Zoom, Netherlands.

This year, the ceremony reached a new level of meaning when Alan and Tracy Fairhurst, nephew and niece of Pilot Officer Hempstead, journeyed from Guatemala to attend. Standing before the monument where his comrades are remembered, their presence bridged past and present — a living thread of remembrance carried through generations.

“Courage has many forms,” Captain Garcia-Salas said. “It can be the wings of a Spitfire pilot or the steady rhythm of a newborn heart refusing to give up. Their legacy lives in every child who breathes freely, in every family that lives in peace, and in every Canadian who cherishes liberty.”

The Last Post, followed by two minutes of silence and the Rouse, resonated across Beechwood as the Guatemalan flag was raised beside Canada’s — a powerful image of two nations united by sacrifice and hope.

Major-General Michel-Henri St-Louis then led the Act of Remembrance, reciting in both official languages:

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old… At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them.”

The ceremony continued with the solemn laying of wreaths:  The Republic of Colombia – Excellency Carlos Arturo Morales and Maj Jose Luis Parra Latin American Soldiers – Capt Rey Garcia-Salas and Giuseppe Marconi — gestures of gratitude that spoke where words could not.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of:

• The Government of Canada – Hon. Mona Fortier
• The Republic of Guatemala – Mr. Diego Meneses, Counsellor
• The Canadian Armed Forces – Col Mark Comeau
• Veterans of All Wars – MGen Michel-Henri St-Louis
• The Latin-American Community – David Aguilar Carranza (Centre Culturel Jaguar Ix Balam) and Betsy Requena (Casa Cultural Peruana)
• In Memoriam – Retired CAF, Chaplain Yves Lesieur
• Amicitia France-Canada – Mr. André Lévesque

Each wreath reaffirmed a promise shared by all: We shall remember them.

Two commemorative plaques were presented by the LASC, marking a new chapter of recognition — one to MGen Michel-Henri St-Louis for his leadership and commitment to remembrance and inclusion; the other to Mr. Giuseppe Marconi, Co-Founder of LASC, for his vision and dedication to preserving Latin-American military history.

“Since the two World Wars, soldiers of Latin-American descent have established a legacy of voluntary service and sacrifice,” said MGen St-Louis.

“Behind every recognition, there isn’t an ending — there’s an opportunity to look within and see how far we’ve come,” added Mr. Marconi.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered for a reception and historical exhibition honouring the Latin-American heroes who served under the Canadian flag.

In closing, Nick McCarthy thanked all participants and reaffirmed a collective duty:

“This ceremony honours a chapter of Canadian history that was, for too long, unwritten. Let us carry their legacy forward so their sacrifices continue to inspire generations to come.”

As the final photograph was taken beside the monument, families, veterans, and cultural leaders stood together — a living image of unity and remembrance. The 2025 Latin-American Remembrance Ceremony was more than an event; it was a bridge between generations and nations — a tribute proving that courage knows no borders, and gratitude knows no end.

“Today and forever — we shall remember them.”….FOTOS: RICHARD LAWRENCE.