18 Unmarked Graves of Veterans Identified in Prince George Area

Sunday, November 11, 2007 04:01 AM

Operation Remembrance has identified 18 unmarked veteran gravesites in the Prince George area.

The project began more than a year ago when the committee was informed that there are veterans whose gravesite was currently unmarked. A public awareness campaign was initiated and a committee was created. Committee members visited the cemetery to determine which sites were actually unmarked and undertook research on each unmarked site to determine if it was the resting site of a veteran. If the site proved to be that of a veteran, additional details were provided to the Last Post Fund for further research.

"This initiative has been one of my top personal priorities over the past year and I'm very proud of the work that we've been able to get done thus far," says MLA John Rustad. "All veterans deserve our respect and gratitude for their service to our country. One way to honour them is to assure their resting sites are properly marked. Operation
Remembrance Prince George will be continuing our work in the coming years and we encourage anyone who may know of a veteran whose resting site is not properly marked to contact our office at 250-964-5650 or email us at john.rustad.mla@leg.bc.ca."

To be eligible for a marker from the Last Post Fund, the individual must have seen military service during a time of war and have been in an unmarked grave for five or more years.

The identified graves are to be marked in recognition of the service they provided to Canada.

"My Council colleagues and I are so pleased with this work," says Prince George Mayor Colin Kinsley. "Doing all we can to make sure we remember those who gave their lives for our country and the freedom we enjoy is perhaps one of the most important things we can do."

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Posted on Sunday, November 11, 2007 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: camoose on November 11 2007 11:34 AM

Just in case the populace draws the wrong conclussions from this article, the Last Post Fund is funded by the Federal Government, not Mr. Rustad or his party.

http://www.lastpostfund.ca/History.htm

Posted by: owl on November 11 2007 5:25 PM

Thanks for that clarification camoose. Just in case the populace draws the wrong conclusion from your post, as far as I understand the last Federal Government provides the funding for the marker for the grave if none is there.

The work to locate the possible unmarked graves, as identified in the above article is done by local volunteers for no monetary return. The final search to ensure the remains are those of a veteran is conducted by Ottawa. If a headstone or other commemoration is appropriate, applied for, and received, the cost of that marker is Ottawa's.

So, John Rustad's office has been coordinating this project, local volunteers and city staff who look after the cemetary have provided the leg work, and the Feds will provide the fnial dollars for the markers.

http://lastpostfund.ca/Benefits.htm

BTW, more help is always welcomed, so give John Rustad's office a call. Once snow is gone in the spring, the next stage of the project will be starting.

Posted by: metalman on November 13 2007 10:14 AM

Good to see some recognition for those that put their time in to serve this country. Bravo to those donating time to this, and also to the gov't for partial funding. (See, I have positive things to say about the government,too)
metalman.