VANCOUVER, Aug. 9, 2005 -- A technical briefing detailing the
memorial services for Sgt. (Retired) Ernest Alvia "Smokey" Smith will be held
at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10, at the Valour Media Centre at the Salon
Pommard, Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard Street in Vancouver.
The following is the timeline for the memorial services:
Monday, August 8 - Sgt "Smokey" Smith's remains flown by military
aircraft to Ottawa;
Tuesday, August 9 - Remains will lie in the foyer of the House of
Commons;
Wednesday, August 10 - Remains will be flown back to Vancouver.
Technical Briefing at Valour Media Centre;
Thursday, August 11 - Day of rest for the family;
Friday, August 12 - Remains will lie in his own regiment at the Seaforth
Armouries; and
Saturday, August 13 - Procession and funeral service.
Public are welcome to pay their last respects to Sgt. "Smokey" Smith at
the Seaforth Armouries at 1650 Burrard Street, Vancouver on Aug. 12. Hours of
visitation will be made available during the technical briefing or by
contacting the Valour Media Centre after Monday, August 8.
Media must be accredited if they want to have access to areas
specifically set aside for them such as inside the church during the funeral
services. In order to preserve the dignity and respect of the occasion, only
CBC (the host broadcaster) and CP will be allowed to have cameras inside the
Lying-in-State location held at Seaforth Armouries and the church. Completed
accreditation forms must be returned to the Valour Media Centre no later than
8 p.m. Wednesday, August 10.
Should the public have any enquiries, they can contact Veterans Affairs
at 1-800-443-0394.
The Smith family has asked for complete privacy during their time of
mourning. The media and public are asked to respect this request.
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For further information:
Valour Media Centre
(604) 642-2913/2914,
Fax: (604) 642-2744
www.pacificlegion.org/smokeysmith.html
