July 24, 2005
Vancouver -- The Last Post Fund today announced the installation of 13 monuments to commemorate Veterans who lie in unmarked graves in the Mountain View Municipal Cemetery in Vancouver. The official dedication ceremony and parade were planned by the British Columbia Last Post Fund Executive and began in the cemetery this afternoon.
"We are proud of these special monuments which will ensure that these Veterans are remembered always," said Colonel Alex Bialosh, National Executive Director for the Last Post Fund. "The monuments, composed of granite and stainless steel and standing nearly six feet high, are inscribed with the names of those Veterans interred in the cemetery who lie in unmarked graves."
For this project, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) provided $100,000 to the Last Post Fund (LPF) to erect the 13 monuments in the provincial Field of Honour at the Mountain View Cemetery. The monuments commemorate the 939 Veterans who lie there in unmarked graves. The city of Vancouver and the B.C. Branch of the Last Post Fund also provided funding.
"Veterans Affairs Canada is honoured to serve Canada's Veterans and, through our partnership with the Last Post Fund Corporation, we are committed to ensure that these Veterans and their contributions are properly commemorated," said the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Albina Guarnieri, Minister of Veterans Affairs. "It is so fitting that these special monuments will be unveiled during 2005, the Year of the Veteran."
Founded in 1909, the Last Post Fund is a national, non profit organization which helps ensure that Veterans who have little money and few assets receive a dignified funeral and burial, including a grave marker. Through its special grave marking program, it provides grave markers for those Veterans who did not previously qualify for assistance and where a grave marker was not provided at the time of the family/private burial. VAC contributes annually towards this part of the Last Post fund's work. Public donations are also an important source of funds.
Besides its annual contribution towards the grave marking program, Veterans Affairs Canada has contributed $119,000 to the overall maintenance of Mountain View Cemetery since 1998. Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to support the Last Post Fund in the marking of individual unmarked veterans graves in other locations through its annual contributions.
2005 is the Year of the Veteran: Celebrate. Honour. Remember. Teach. Thank.
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Media Enquiries:
Janice Summerby
Media Relations Advisor
Veterans Affairs Canada
(613) 992-7468
Corey Hobbs
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
(613) 996-4649
Alex Bialosh
National Executive Director
Last Post Fund
(514) 866-2727
All Other Enquiries:information@vac-acc.gc.ca
