Honouring service and heritage: The second annual Lebanese-Canadian Military Remembrance Ceremony

December 5, 2025 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time - 2:00

The second annual Lebanese-Canadian Military Remembrance Ceremony was hosted on November 23 on the grounds of the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood in Ottawa. This date honoured Lebanese Independence Day (November 22, 1943) and Lebanese Heritage Month, designated by the Government of Canada in 2023.

Through the collaboration of the Lebanese Canadian Military Remembrance Committee, the Beechwood National Military Cemetery, and the Lebanese Embassy in Ottawa, the ceremony was a solemn and impactful opportunity to honour Lebanese Canadians who serve and have served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The event was a powerful act of remembrance and spoke to shared values of service, resilience, and belonging.

It featured speakers such as Commodore Sam Sader, Honorary Colonel Omar Abou-Zahr, His Excellency Ali Dirani, Consul of Lebanon to Canada, as well as the family of Trooper Marc Diab.

Trooper Marc Diab of the Royal Canadian Dragoons was born in Lebanon and raised in Canada. Tragically, he was killed in action in Afghanistan in March 2009 at the age of 22. His deep commitment to Canada, his courage, and his faith were inspiring to many and still lives on in others. His family attended this year's ceremony, laid a wreath, and shared a personal tribute in his honour. His dedication to the CAF and to his Lebanese heritage will be remembered. He is only one of the Lebanese-Canadians who have had a large impact on the CAF and on the Defence team.

This year's ceremony highlighted the importance, from an operational and personal perspective, of people of dual heritage in the CAF. Their service is enriching and integral. It also demonstrated the power of remembrance when it is shared across cultures, generations, and institutions.

Though Remembrance Day honours all veterans, this new tradition of Remembrance for Lebanese Canadian members of the CAF allows for those in attendance to affirm that Lebanese-Canadian veterans are remembered, every day and on every occasion.

Thank you to the Lebanese-Canadian Military Remembrance committee for organizing this event and thank you to all Defence Team members who are members of the Lebanese community.