DAOD 5018-3, National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. Process
4. Operating Principles
5. Specifications, Conditions and Standards
6. Procedures
7. Consequences
8. Responsibilities
9. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2004-09-03

Date of Last Modification: 2017-11-17

Application: This Defence Administrative Order and Directive (DAOD) is an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).

Supersession: CANFORGEN 075/01, Official Opening – National Military Cemetery of the CF

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries:

• Director Casualty Support Management (DCSM) (for policy)

• Commandant, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) (Cmdt CFSU (Ottawa)) (for support services)

2. Definition

immediate family member (membre de la famille immédiate)

A spouse, common-law partner, father, mother, child, brother or sister; or a person who has undertaken the responsibilities and fulfilled the duties of a father or mother. (Defence Terminology Bank record number 43102)

3. Process

Context

3.1 The National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces (NMC) is a national focal point of honour which recognizes the service and sacrifice of CAF members and other eligible persons who have served Canada with distinction in war or other armed conflict and in peace. The NMC is located in a designated section of Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

Governance

3.2 The NMC is governed by the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of National Defence and the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation Concerning the Establishment of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces (the MOU).

4. Operating Principles

Eligibility for Interment in the NMC

4.1 The following table sets out the eligibility requirements for interment in the NMC:

4.2 Despite paragraph 4.1, the DCSM may consider that, in all the circumstances, the interment in the NMC of a person would not be in the interest of the CAF.

Military Funerals

4.3 Eligibility for a military funeral for a deceased CAF member is set out in QR&O article 24.15, Entitlement to Military Funerals.

Funeral and Burial Expenses

4.4 Eligibility for the payment at public expense of funeral and burial expenses for certain CAF members is set out in CBI paragraph 210.20(4), Funerals and Burial Expenses.

4.5 The funeral and burial expenses for others, including an immediate family member, are the responsibility of the executor, estate administrator or liquidator of the succession.

4.6 If a CAF member makes the necessary payment for interment in the NMC and is eligible under CBI 210.20 on death to the payment of funeral and burial expenses at public expense, the estate of the CAF member will be reimbursed for the payment made.

Service Charges

4.7 Service charges for the NMC are filed with the Ontario Ministry of Government Consumer Services and are shown in the rate table in the Operating Policies of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces. The payment of service charges may be arranged directly with the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation (BCF) on a prepayment basis or invoiced by the BCF to the estate of the deceased.

5. Specifications, Conditions and Standards

Location

5.1 Under the MOU, a site plan affords exclusive use of a section of Beechwood Cemetery for the interment of eligible deceased CAF members and other persons identified in the table found in paragraph 4.1.

Allocation, Marking and Care of Plots and Gravesites

5.2 The following conditions apply to the allocation, marking and care of plots and gravesites in the NMC:

1. each plot may contain the remains of a maximum of two eligible deceased persons, one of whom is required to be an eligible CAF member, former member or veteran, and the other may be an eligible immediate family member;
2. all gravesites are allocated in sequential order in accordance with the agreed site plan;
3. there is no selection of gravesites or allocation by rank, service, unit or regiment;
4. the burial of caskets and cremated remains in urns takes place in different sections of the NMC in order to preserve the symmetry and placement of headstones;
5. all gravesites are to be marked, without exception, with the standard NMC pattern upright headstone as shown in the Operating Policies of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces;
6. no flowers and trees may be planted in the NMC except in accordance with applicable MOU provisions;
7. flowers and wreaths may be laid on gravesites but will be removed periodically by BCF maintenance staff; and
8. no attachments of any kind may be affixed to headstones.

5.3 In accordance with the MOU, the BCF is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of all gravesites, including landscaping and ongoing uniformity.

6. Procedures

Application Procedure

6.1 A CAF member or other eligible person identified in the table to paragraph 4.1 who seeks interment in the NMC, or the legal representative of a deceased eligible person, must complete and sign application form DND 2277-E, National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces: Registration Application Section 103.

6.2 Completed forms are to be sent to the DCSM for the verification of eligibility.

6.3 If the DCSM determines that a CAF member is eligible for interment in the NMC and the CAF member is subsequently released under item 1 or 2 of the table to QR&O article 15.01, the approval of eligibility will be revoked.

6.4 If the DCSM determines that a CAF member is eligible for interment in the NMC and the CAF member is subsequently released under item 5(d) or 5(f) of the table to QR&O article 15.01, the approval of eligibility may be revoked if the DCSM considers that interment of the former member in the NMC would not be in the interest of the CAF.

7. Consequences

Consequences of Non-Compliance

7.1 Non-compliance with this DAOD may have consequences for the DND and the CAF as institutions and for CAF members as individuals. Suspected non compliance may be investigated. The nature and severity of the consequences resulting from actual non compliance will be commensurate with the circumstances of the non-compliance.

8. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

8.1 The following table identifies the responsibilities associated with this DAOD:

9. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Policy DAOD

• War Veterans Allowance Act
• Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 of Ontario
• QR&O article 15.01, Release of Officers and Non-commissioned Members
• QR&O article 24.15, Entitlement to Military Funerals
• QR&O article 210.62, Employment of Civilian Officiating Clergyman – Fees and Expenses
• DAOD 5018-0, Injured Members and Military Casualties

Other References

• CBI 210.20, Funeral and Burial Expenses
• A-PD-201-000/PT-000, The Canadian Forces Manual of Drill and Ceremonial
• Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of National Defence and the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation Concerning the Establishment of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces (available in English and in paper copy only)
• Operating Policies of the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces
• Form DND 2277-E, National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces: Registration Application Section 103
• Form CF 52, General Allowance Claim