For more information call 902-461-0248 or visit our website: www.customerfirstfinancing.ca 141651 Monday, November 27, 2017 Volume 51, Issue 24 www.tridentnewspaper.com HMCS Moncton assists with narcotics seizure Crewmembers move seized narcotics off HMCS Moncton as part of the drug bundles transferring process to the US Coast Guard on November 11, 2017 during Operation CARIBBE. 12 WING IMAGING SERVICES 141652 CAF Veterans who completed Basic Training and are Honorably Discharged are eligible for the CANEX No Interest Credit Plan. (OAC) CANADA’S MILITARY STORE LE MAGASIN MILITAIRE DU CANADA Canex Windsor Park | 902-465-5414 2 TRIDENT NEWS NOVEMBER 27, 2017 Remembrance Day ceremony attracts large crowd By Virginia Beaton, Trident Staff A 21-gun salute from Citadel Hill thundered across the harbour as people stood silent in Halifax’s Grand Parade for the Royal Canadi- an Legion’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony. This year marks the 100th an- niversary of the battle of Pass- chendaele, stated Jay Tofflemire, First Vice President of Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. As master of ceremonies for the occasion, Tofflemire reminded the crowd of the importance of remembering and acknowledging the contribu- tions of Canada’s military per- sonnel, both past and present. He spoke of visiting the Last Steps memorial that commemorates First World War military members who departed Canada to serve in Eu- rope, and noted, “It’s one lof many monuments that remind us of what our young men and women have LS Richard Balbuena stands sentry at the National War Memorial in Ottawa during Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11. done for Canada.” PTE TORI LAKE, CFSU OTTAWA The ceremony included the tra- ditional two minutes of silence in memory of the fallen, as well as the Flowers of the Forest Lament, the Dominican-born sailor Last Post, and a helicopter flypast. The Act of Remembrance was followed by the release of a group of white doves, symbolizing the proud to represent RCN wish for peace, and the reading of Psalm 121. As the Queen’s representative, His Honour Arthur LeBlanc, Lieu- tenant Governor of Nova Scotia, on Remembrance Day laid the first wreath at the memo- rial. By Ryan Melanson, Now, LS Balbuena is is reflecting but it really isn’t about me. I’ve been Karen Sutherland, the sister of Trident Staff on what may be his most important tasked to represent the Navy, so I’ll Pte Nathan Smith, laid a wreath tasking yet. As part of the 2017 Re- be standing up straight and looking as the representative of Memorial LS Richard Balbuena left his office membrance Day Sentry Program, he proud on behalf of all my brothers in Cross families. Pte Smith, a na- job in Montreal in 2009 to pursue an was selected as one of just six CAF arms,” he said. tive of Nova Scotia, was killed in exciting and fulfilling career in the members to stand stand sentry at the He was joined in Ottawa by his wife Afghanistan in 2002. Royal Canadian Navy, and less than National War Memorial during cer- Nancy and a number of family mem- RAdm Craig Baines, Commander a decade later, he knows he made the emonies on November 11. bers from Quebec, while his four chil- JTFA and MARLANT, laid a right choice. The program was established in dren tuned in to the Remembrance wreath, followed by military and As a Weapons Engineering Techni- 1998, and selection is considered a Day service from home. diplomatic entities such as 1 Cana- cian in the Atlantic Fleet, he’s served high honour, with units nominating As someone who came to Canada dian Air Division, Veterans Affairs in HMC ships Toronto, Ville de Que- members who have shown exceptional as an immigrant at a young age, LS Canada, consuls from the United bec, and Fredericton, completed ex- service and dedication to their country. Balbuena has always seen his service States and Norway, the RCMP, the tensive deployments in the Caribbean The six CAF members, along with one as an opportunity to give back to the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, and Mediterranean, helped intercept RCMP participant, also take part in a country for welcoming his family so the Fleet Club, the Last Post Fund, illicit cargo in the Arabian Sea, and busy week-long program that includes warmly almost 30 years ago. Honour- and many more. Civic, professional provided important Spanish transla- a meeting with the Governor General, ing our veterans and the sacrifices of and academic groups and organiza- tion during a trip to South America, visits to Parliament Hill and RCMP those who served in the past is a part tions including Halifax Regional just to name a few tasks. facilities, and other special events. of that, he said. Municipality, Dalhousie University, “Every day can be different in the LS Balbuena is proud to be called “Since the day my family moved several unions, and several frater- Navy, and that’s part of the reason I upon for such an important ceremo- here, when we first touched Canadian nities and sororities, to name but a joined,” said LS Balbuena, who was nial duty, just like he was earlier this soil, we felt a welcoming. I was feeling few, also participated in the wreath born in the Dominican Republic and ar- year when he represented the RCN at patriotic before I could even speak laying. rived in Quebec with his family in 1988. the Canadian National Vimy Memo- the official languages. It makes me so HMCS Scotian hosted a ceremony “I’m around amazing people every rial in France, but he prefers to focus proud to say this is my country, and at the Sailors’ Memorial in Point day, seeing countries and places that on the big picture, rather than his to be showing respect for people who Pleasant Park, and 12 Wing Shear- I never thought I would see, and I’m personal accomplishments. have given their lives and sacrificed water held one at the Afghanistan a part of something bigger than just “Of course it feels good to be recog- themselves in the name of our values. Memorial at the wing. myself.” nized for how you’ve done your job, It’s very important to me.” NOVEMBER 27, 2017 TRIDENT NEWS 3 MARLANT image tech ‘overwhelmed’ with pride during sentry duty By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff PO2 Peter Reed has made a career out of photographing CAF members and capturing significant military moments, but his most recent tasking put him on the other side of the camera lens. An Imaging Technician with For- mation Imaging Services in Halifax, PO2 Reed served as the Sentry Com- mander for the tri-service rotation of this year’s National Sentry Program in Ottawa, marching members out to the National War Memorial each day to stand sentry and guard over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. “There’s an overwhelming feeling each time I march the troops out,” PO2 Reed said. “I was nervous at first, but once you actually start marching toward the tomb, there’s just such a strong sense of pride, and of the dedication I’ve brought to the service and to my career.” The tri-service rotation, composed of 20 personnel of mixed Army, RCAF and RCN backgrounds, marks the final leg of the 2017 National Sentry Program, which began on April 9 and ended on November 10. The group ar- PO2 Peter Reed served as Sentry Commander for the tri-service rotation of the 2017 National Sentry Program from October 21 to rived in Ottawa a week early for drill November 10. and training, including knowledge MCPL CAROLE GOSSELIN, CFSU OTTAWA tests regarding the Memorial and the story of the Unknown Soldier, then member acting as a ‘roamer.’ As an image tech shooting exercises “His family members continue to took over sentry duties on October 21. “We have a third person so if people and operations around the world, or come here often, just to say hi and The Ceremonial Guard conducts visiting the site have any questions diving in the Arctic to photograph meet the troops. I think it reinforces the training and broadly oversees about the memorial, why people are Franklin’s lost ships, his job in the how important this is,” PO2 Reed said. the program, but it falls on the standing there, what their duties are, CAF comes with a lot of excitement. “Members of the CAF will always ROTO Commander to ensure the and so on, they can have those ques- Serving with the Sentry Program, say ‘We’re just doing our job,’ or ‘This day-to-day operations and changing tions answered,” PO2 Reed said, de- however, representing all those who is what we signed up for,’ but it really of the guard run smoothly, with two scribing a steady stream of visitors that serve and who have served in the past, hits home when I march the troops up sentries standing guard from 9 a.m. want to shake hands, take photos and is a unique experience. The shoot- there and see the drive and effort they to 5 p.m. each day, along with a third thank the members for their service. ing at the War Memorial in 2014 that put into this task and everything it resulted in the tragic death of Cpl Na- represents.” than Cirillo also weighs on the mind The tri-service rotation stood sentry of every CAF member who stands for the last time on November 10 be- sentry, PO2 Reed said, and members fore handing control back to the Cer- IDPWD 2017 set for December 4 of Cpl Cirillo’s family met with mem- emonial Guard to prepare this year’s bers of his rotation while visiting the Remembrance Day Sentry Program By Dan Peppar, tural life of their communities.