Transcript

(N) Welcome back to Defence Team News, I’m Nicole Power.

(M) And I’m Cpl Michael MacIsaac. Here are the headlines at Defence.

(N) Four Canadian soldiers from the First World War were laid to rest with military honours at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Loos British Cemetery in France. The families of the four soldiers were also in attendance, with the support of Veterans Affairs Canada.

At the ceremony, we spoke with those involved to learn more.

(S) My name is Dr. Sarah Lockyer, I’m the Casualty Identification Coordinator for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Casualty Identification Program aims to be able to analyze the remains of newly discovered Canadian soldiers who died during the First and Second World War, so that we can identify them, so that they can be buried with their name, by their regiment and in the presence of their family.

To be able to be here today is very special. When we get to this point where it’s the burial, technically speaking, my job for these particular soldiers has been over for a number of months now. It’s over once we confirm the identifications. But here, when I get to come to the burials, I get to meet the families, understand what it means to them, and how it has impacted their families, and I also get to meet the young soldiers who come over and do the burial and bury one of their own and find out what it means to them. Overall, it’s a very special experience. And it’s an honour and a privilege to be able to be a part of it.

(M) Exercise MAROON RAIDER recently wrapped up at the 5^th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick.

This annual confirmation event was an exciting and challenging combined arms combat training exercise involving regular force and reserve soldiers from units across Canada and members of the United States Army National Guard.

The week-long field training exercise was designed to provide hundreds of soldiers with an opportunity to consolidate individual and team training, as well as showcase leadership skills acquired during the Canadian Army’s Full-Time Summer Employment initiative.

(M) That’s it for us. Thank you so much for watching. See you next time…

(N)…for Defence Team News!