Veterans Honoured

Saturday, June 14, 2008 01:55 PM

Private Thomas Clifford of the 2618 Rocky Mountain Rangers, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, salutes after placing flowers on the newly marked grave of James Walsh, a veteran who had served in WW II with the Edmonton Fusiliers

Prince George, B.C. - Amid a steady chilly drizzle, Operation Remembrance: Prince George, has officially marked 18 WWI and WWII veteran gravesites with Last Post Fund Markers in the City of Prince George Cemetery.

It has been two years since Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad started working with the Operation Remembrance Committee of Prince George, " I feel privileged to be involved in this project and to be able to celebrate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country" Rustad told the gathering at the cemetery today.

It is thought there may be somewhere between 3 thousand and 6 thousand unmarked veterans' graves in Canada, of that number as many as 80 may be in cemeteries in the Prince George region.

In Prince George, 18 graves have been identified so far, and given markers through the Last Post fund.

The bagpipes played in the background as the name of each veteran was read out loud. A Cadet with the Rocky Mountain Rangers , Royal Canadian Army Cadets, stepped forward and carried a pot of mums to the specific grave. There, the cadet placed the flowers, saluted , and stood guard for the remainder of the ceremony.

For Georgina Holmes, the granddaughter of James Walsh, a veteran who had served with the Edmonton Fusiliers, the day is special. "I was 16 when he died in a car crash. He left us with a good sense of values, such as making time for family, and always helping others who may not be as fortunate." She personally thanked Rustad and the Committee for their efforts to see that his grave, and those like him, were marked.

The ceremony wrapped up with the Last Post, a minute of silence followed by the wail of the bag pipes playing Amazing Grace.

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Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2008 01:55 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: thisisme on June 14 2008 8:12 PM

Strange, that the Cadet is saluting with his left hand?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on June 15 2008 12:58 AM

Weird.
Left hand salutes are usually only permitted if the right arm is injured etc,but it was generally frowned apon by the brass.
Go figure!
Anyway, it is nice to see this happening for the vets!
A fine gesture,and good to see them remembered after so many years.

Posted by: Bridge on June 15 2008 9:55 AM

How come we were not given a time of day for this event?

Notice that the Cadet is also using the American type salute with the hand held "flat" instead of palm "foreword" or has the American form been adapted by Canadian forces?

Cheers

Posted by: socredible on June 15 2008 11:09 AM

It's been adopted by the Canadian Forces, Bridge. Only the RCMP maintains the original 'British' salute. Actually, I believe the Royal Canadian Navy used the "hand held flat" salute, as does the Royal Navy. Nice to see young people in the Cadets honouring the Vets.

Posted by: metalman on June 16 2008 8:36 AM

Regardless of the confusing salute, I am proud that our veterans are being acknowledged, even if a politician was involved in the organising. The important thing here is that younger generations (cadets) are imbued with a sense of respect for those who have gone on ahead.
metalman,