American Gold Star Mothers and Canadian Silver Cross families came together at the border Saturday morning to bridge a shared understanding of each other’s loss.

Operation Hart, meaning "honouring allies and remembering together," began at the St. Stephen, N.B., border crossing nine years ago. There are now 14 border crossing communities participating, from Maine right up to Alaska.

At the end of the ceremony, the two sides come together. The American Gold Star Mothers hand the Canadian Silver Cross families a wreath, which is then laid at a cenotaph on the Canadian side.

The exchanging of wreaths is also a part of Wreaths Across America – a campaign to lay a wreath at veterans’ gravesites and memorials across the United States and several Canadian cenotaphs.

"It's a blessing to have connections like this because we've been there, and it's difficult,” said Gold Star Mother Joyce Richmond, who lost her daughter while she was in service in the U.S. “It's bad enough to lose a child, but to lose a child when they're in the service is a special kind of thing. So it's amazing to know other mothers who've been there."

It’s a feeling felt by families on either side of the border. For the Greeslade’s, who lost their son David while on duty in Afghanistan, it’s about feeling the connection.

"Being on the bridge and thinking about our boys looking down, watching us, doing this together with our allies, we truly are friends with each other," said Laurie Greenslade.

"It means a lot,” said Dale Greenslade. “A lot of people remember on both sides of the border. It's very touching."

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.