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A Hamilton soldier who died in Latvia last month is being buried today in Burlington, Ont.
Sebastian Halmagean, 24, died near the Latvian capital of Riga on Jan. 29, according to Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND). The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.
According to an obituary posted online, a graveside service will be held 11:30 a.m. ET at Woodland Cemetery in the Field of Honour. The service is being livestream and people can register to watch online.
Halmagean’s family received friends at Doodsworth & Brown Funeral Home Ancaster chapel on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and again from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the obituary reads.
“On behalf of the family, they are deeply grateful for your kind words, support, and presence during this difficult time,” it says.
The flag-draped casket carrying Halmagean arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario on Feb. 3.
Halmagean was on his first deployment when he died, his father Alin Halmagean told CBC Hamilton.
He said his son enjoyed his job as a gunner based at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, N.B.
Halmagean helped extinguish fires in Newfoundland and Labrador last year and was proud to serve other Canadians in need, his father said.
Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Ned Kuruc recently told CBC Halmagean’s death is “absolutely terrible” and a “tragedy” for the Stoney Creek community.
Kuruc knows the family personally, and knew Halmagean since he was 5 years old.
“Sebastian was full of life,” Kuruc said. “He was a really, really smart kid.”
