French frigate docks in Montreal ahead of Remembrance Day ceremonies
MONTREAL — After taking part in anti-ISIL missions and a multinational training excercise, a French warship has docked in Montreal for what may be a less onerous mission: joining the city’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.
The 153-metre, 7,000-tonne aerial defence warship “Forbin” sailed up from Norfolk, Va., where it recently participated in the U.S.-led “Bold Alligator” training exercise along with vessels from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Thomas Fraioli, the ship’s captain, said some 60 crew members will join Saturday’s ceremony as a way of highlighting the long military history between the two countries.
“We had the opportunity to come celebrate Nov. 11, which is very important in France and is celebrated every year by celebrating the participation of Canadian forces during the First World War,” he said in an interview.