Canadian Airmen Buried with Full Military Honours

News Release

Nijmegen, The Netherlands - Canadian Second World War heroes, Flying Officer Sidney Glen Peterson and Flight Sergeant Joseph Thomas Lloyd LeBlanc, were buried with full military honours today at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands. Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) arranged for family members of the two Canadian crew members to attend the burial, accompanied by Mr. Masud Husain, Chargé d'Affaires for Canadian Embassy in the Netherlands, members of the Canadian Forces, British and Dutch civilian and military officials.
"It is truly an honour to be here today with the family members of the airmen as they commemorate and honour their courageous loved ones," said Mr. Husain. "The torch of remembrance continues to burn bright, as Canadians everywhere remember the many sacrifices made by these airmen and their comrades for the freedom we have today."
On May 25, 1944, seven airmen on board the Halifax Bomber LV905 were killed when their aircraft was shot down by a German fighter plane. The remains of only two crew members were recovered after the crash and only British Sergeant George Herbert Butler had been positively identified. Sgt. Butler and the unidentified airman were buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, where the military burial for crew members was held today.
Remains of the crew were recovered in the fall of 2005 in a rural area outside the southern Dutch village of Hank. The recovery was initiated by the Salvage Halifax 1944 Foundation and carried out by the Royal Netherlands Air Force Salvage Team, with the support of the municipality of Werkendam. The Canadian Department of National Defence, in collaboration with the Royal Air Force, conducted the military funeral and burial.
For more information about the recovery and burial of the Canadian airmen, please visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.
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Media Enquiries:

Pamela Price
Media Relations Advisor

Veterans Affairs Canada
(902) 368-0294

Richard Roik
Special Assistant - Communications

Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
(613) 996-4649

All Other Enquiries:information@vac-acc.gc.ca

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2016-12-15

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Canadian Airmen Buried with Full Military Honours

News Release

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