November 3, 2009
November 5 Proclaimed Last Post Fund Day

VICTORIA - The Province is proclaiming November 5, 2009, as Last Post Fund Day, in honour of 100 years of ensuring that Canadian and Allied veterans in Canada are guaranteed a dignified burial and grave marker.

"The Last Post Fund recognizes that those who served in Canada's military deserve to be honoured and remembered with respect now and by future generations," said Premier Gordon Campbell. "These veterans made an incredible contribution to our shared freedoms. It's important that their final resting spots are provided and marked in a way that honours that contribution. The Last Post Fund provides dignity and remembrance that is beyond value."

The Last Post Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that no veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial due to insufficient funds. It supports its own military cemetery, the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire, Québec, and other initiatives to commemorate Canadian veterans, such as providing military markers for unmarked veterans' graves. The Last Post Fund is financially supported by Veterans Affairs Canada and private donations.

"For a century, the Last Post Fund has worked to honour those who served their country and the cause of freedom around the world," said Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordon Hogg. "I was pleased to work with Operation Remembrance and the Last Post Fund in 2006 to identify and mark the graves of 36 veterans at Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery, which has continued to identify and mark veterans' graves across B.C. with the support of the Last Post Fund."

Since its founding in 1909, The Last Post Fund has provided funds for funerals, burial and grave markers to more than 145,000 veterans, and has nine branches across the country.

To download a photo of Premier Campbell presenting the proclamation to the Last Post Fund, go to: http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/ online.

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