Hamilton soldier who died in Latvia honoured with 21-gun salute at burial near Burlington, Ont.

Dozens of people gathered Monday at Woodland Cemetery for the burial of Sebastian Halmagean, a Hamilton soldier who died in Latvia last month.

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.

During the ceremony in Woodland Cemetery, where Hamilton meets Burlington, Ont., police officers guarded the area, directing visitors to walk in because parking was full.

Just before 12 p.m. ET, Halmagean’s flag-draped casket was carried into the cemetery by an army vehicle accompanied by dozens of soldiers all dressed in uniform.

Some of the soldiers, who served as pallbearers, removed the casket from the vehicle, placed it on their shoulders and slowly carried it across a snow-covered field to the grave site. 

The honour to Halmagean included a 21-gun salute, which was followed by a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace.

At the end of the short ceremony, the flag that covered Halmagean’s casket was ceremonially folded and presented to members of his immediate family who were seated close by.

Family received friends at funeral home

Halmagean’s family received friends at Dodsworth & Brown Funeral Home Ancaster Chapel on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to an obituary posted online.

“On behalf of the family, they are deeply grateful for your kind words, support, and presence during this difficult time,” it said.

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 five years old.

“Sebastian was full of life,” Kuruc said. “He was a really, really smart kid.”