OTTAWA, ON, March 3, 2004 - The War Amps was pleased following word that Brenda Beament, 90, will be reunited with her 95-year-old husband, Ted, at Ottawa's Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre today.

Ted Beament, a decorated veteran who helped plan the D-Day invasion of Europe, was entitled to a bed at the Perley. His wife has resided at a different facility on the opposite end of Ottawa because the longterm care system does not automatically place married couples together.

The case led The War Amps to launch a national campaign to locate other veterans and their spouses in similar circumstances. The Association has set up a hotline with the goal of identifying these cases and resolving them. So far, it has logged more than 100 phone calls with approximately a dozen cases identified.

“We have taken a leading role because we feel that these couples can be reunited by developing creative solutions on a case-by-case basis,” said War Amps Chief Executive Officer Cliff Chadderton.

Chadderton added that the information compiled through the campaign would be gathered and submitted to a Parliamentary Committee to ensure that the traditional longterm care priority for veterans and their spouses is protected across Canada.