Unmarked veteran graves to receive headstones with research from the Last Post Fund
A ceremony Friday to honour local veterans in unmarked graves took place at Calgary Union Cemetery.
Research from volunteers over the winter months has discovered an additional 140 unmarked veteran graves in Alberta.
The mission of the Last Post Fund is to ensure that no veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial, as well as a military gravestone, due to insufficient funds at time of death.
“This event is to recognize the hard work done by volunteers,” said Glenn Miller, Alberta Last Post Fund.
Last Post Fund
Miller volunteers his time to research and notify family when discoveries are made.
“As a veteran myself, I’ve always been guided by the philosophy of three simple words, lest we forget,” said Miller.
Yvonne Sugimoto, a volunteer with the Last Post Fund, has been searching for unmarked graves for over ten years.
“These people gave everything for us,” said Sugimoto, “Most of the graves that I find, don’t have family in the area and that is likely why their graves are unmarked.”
Sugimoto is very thankful for what these veterans did for us and is happy to give her time.
“I grieve a little for them, because so many of them died under tragic circumstances, absolutely horrible circumstances and they had no one,” said Sugimoto.
The Last Post Fund honours veterans
Veterans Affairs Canada pays for the markers once approved and they estimate that there could be two to three thousand unmarked graves in Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From collapsing ecosystems to artificial intelligence running wild, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the coming years.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.