OTTAWA, ON, February 18, 2004 - The 48-member National Council of Veteran Associations has today forwarded a letter to the Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Veterans Affairs, in connection with the current controversy regarding the Last Post Fund.

The letter was sent by Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of NCVA. For convenience, we are quoting hereunder the letter, in that it contains information which is pertinent to the issue.

February 18, 2004

The Honourable John McCallum, PC, MP
Minister of Veterans Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister:

RE: Last Post Fund 

I enclose herewith copy of a memorandum I have dispatched to the members of the National Council of Veteran Associations.

We were intending to develop a submission to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (possibly a joint committee of the House and Senate) to give further attention to this matter.

It would appear, however, that the situation is serious and may not be delayed any further.

Incidentally, your departmental officials are quoted as having said that the money should be raised from the public. This is in the form of a “bad joke.”

This is not to say that the public is in any way unsupportive of the needs of veterans. On the other hand, why should the public be asked to finance the honourable burial of a man or woman who voluntarily served his country during a time of war?

Another factor, of course, is the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood in Ottawa. This was hailed as an indication that Canada would give the same recognition to its war dead as is done in the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington. The latest information I received, however, is that the dependants of a veteran with an honourable discharge who wished to be buried in the new National Military Cemetery, would be expected to meet a cost of approximately $4,500. Burial for honourable veterans at Arlington Cemetery is free.

Yours sincerely,