War Amps Wife Comments on Lump Sum Payment to Military Survivors
OTTAWA, ON, May 25, 2006 - The wife of an amputee veteran who was seriously injured in World War II has written to the Calgary Herald pointing out that, with the recent announcement by the Minister of Veterans Affairs of a lump sum payment to surviving spouses, under the Pension Act she would have been entitled to a similar payment had he died as a result of his service, as his death would have been considered attributable to military service overseas.
Grace Patton wrote to the Herald in response to coverage of the death of Captain Nichola Goddard. Captain Goddard's husband, Jason Beam, will presumably receive long-term benefits, as well as the recently announced lump sum payment.
Her letter is copied below:
May 25, 2006
Dear Editor:
As the wife of a war amputee who was seriously wounded in World War II, I was pleased to see the announcement from the Minister of Veterans Affairs that as of April 1, 2006 the spouses of military personnel killed in action would receive a lump sum of $250,000.
Recently, Calgarians (and all Canadians for that matter) were sorry to learn of the death of Captain Nichola Goddard, who lost her life in an ambush with enemy troops in the fighting in Afghanistan.
The announcement made by the new Veterans Affairs Minister, the Honourable Greg Thompson, at last recognizes that when a soldier is killed in action the loss is felt by the family including, as in this case, a grieving husband - Jason Beam.
It is little enough to compensate him for the loss of his loved one - - presumably, there will be long-term benefits and now the immediate policy of a lump sum payment. This situation reminds us that there is often a husband when a female soldier is killed.
I take this opportunity, as someone who could have been in this situation, of expressing appreciation to the current Government (no politics intended) for a benefit long past due.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Grace Patton, Calgary