Bulletin THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF VETERAN ASSOCIATIONS IN CANADA Vol. 03 • Fall 2010 In this issue... Merchant Navy Bar • 7 At your service… • 10 NCVA Annual General Meeting • 1 VAC Announcements a Good First Step • 8 Canadian Army Newsreels Released • 11 New Veterans Ombudsman • 4 Kirsty Duncan – Liberal Party Veterans Affairs Critic • 9 Monuments Committee Update • 12 Hong Kong Veteran Initiatives • 5 Veterans with Lou Gehrig’s to Get Benefits • 10 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion • 12 NCVA Annual General Meeting was the site of the 2010 NCVA Annual General Meeting on October 20. The meeting was very well attended. NCVA Secretary General Brian Forbes welcomed those attending and commenced the meeting by generally outlining recent developments concerning speculation as to the downsizing of Veterans Affairs Canada and the overall performance of the department in responding to the needs of Canadian veterans. He indicated that a “window of opportunity” has been created as a consequence of the intense scrutiny that has been applied to VAC, and that NCVA was taking advantage of this opportunity to aggressively pursue a number of ongoing concerns which have formed part and parcel of the Association’s Legislative Agenda for the past few years. The Secretary General added that, although much of the media attention has been focused on the plight of modern-day veterans and the application of the New Veterans Charter, there still remain a number of specific concerns that impact on the traditional veterans’ community which require prioritized attention. Recent meetings with the Minister of Veterans Affairs and senior VAC officials have produced positive movement on a number of issues delineated in NCVA’s Legislative Program, and the Secretary General underlined that the collective strength of our organization was not without significance in this continual pursuit of legislative reform. Officers The officers for the coming year are: Secretary General: Brian N. Forbes Vice-Chairmen: Gene Heesaker, Canadian Corps Association Derrill Henderson, Hong Kong Veterans Association and Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association Honorary Chairman for Life: Cliff Chadderton (It is noted that long-serving Vice-Chairman Les Peate has had some recent medical difficulties and reluctantly advised that he is no longer able to stand for election.)

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 • 1 NCVA Legislative Program Secretary General Brian Forbes introduced the proposed NCVA Legislative Program for 2010, the highlights of which follow:

PART I: The Future of Veterans Affairs Canada Recommendation: That NCVA continue to insist that VAC be retained as a substantive government presence for the foreseeable future and that any decision to diminish the role of the department is totally unacceptable and represents a fundamental breach of the government’s legal and moral commitment to Canadian veterans.

PART II: Legislative Developments (a) Long Term Care/Intermediary Care Recommendation: That NCVA continue to monitor the direction VAC is taking with regard to the health care review to ensure that present benefits for deserving veterans are not reduced or discontinued and that any enhancement of health care benefits through a “targeted approach” would be beneficial to the traditional veteran and his spouse. Recommendation: That NCVA continue to collaborate with VAC to ensure that intermediary care needs of the traditional veteran are addressed through the expansion of the current VIP program and long term care policy of the department so as to provide financial assistance in this area of institutionalized care.

(b) VAC Adjudication and the Utilization of Presumptions LAST POST FUND/VETERANS BURIAL REGULATIONS Recommendation: That NCVA continue to pressure the Minister of Veterans Affairs to ensure that at a very minimum seriously disabled veterans entitled to a disability pension at 78% or more qualify as a matter of right under the Veterans Burial Regulations/Last Post Fund. Recommendation: That VAC in addition adopt the recommendations contained in the Veterans Ombudsman’s report of September 23, 2009 “Serve with Honour, Depart with Dignity,” to address the inequities in the program with particular reference to increasing the amount of the benefit, to widening the criteria for exemptions under the regulations, and to increasing the extent of the retroactivity as to the initiation of an application for benefits.

VIP FOR LIFE FOR WIDOWS Recommendation: That NCVA continue to pressure the Minister and departmental officials to review the present policy on the continuation of VIP for life for widows with a view to providing, at a minimum, this benefit to all widows of seriously disabled veterans who are not eligible because the veteran never applied for the benefits. Recommendation: That the Minister of Veterans Affairs alter the Government’s current position so that the widows’ needs determine the benefit required (housekeeping or groundskeeping) instead of the present practice of basing the decisions on the specific VIP benefit the veteran was receiving prior to his death.

2 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 STE. ANNE’S HOSPITAL Recommendation: NCVA will continue to express the significant concerns to the Minister and the Chief Negotiator and intends to hold ongoing discussions with the Minister’s Office to protect the interest of veterans affected by this potential transfer. Recommendation: That NCVA take the position that the Federal Government retain control of the administration of Ste. Anne’s hospital while the greater majority of the residents are veterans rather than transferring the institution to the province of Quebec with the proviso that a reasonable number of non-veteran patients be admitted to those vacant beds not occupied by veterans.

MARRIAGE AFTER SIXTY Recommendation: That NCVA continue to pressure the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Minister of National Defence on behalf of this particular class of widows so as to allow the spouse of a Canadian Forces retiree marrying after 60 to be eligible for survivor’s benefits without reducing the amount of superannuation in payment to the retiree.

ABORIGINAL VETERANS Recommendation: That NCVA continue to support the Aboriginal Veterans and pressure the Government to provide an ex-gratia payment as compensation for benefits denied to them following their service in WWII or .

CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM Recommendation: NCVA has proposed that an independent board of trustees be established to oversee the operations of the Museum in accordance with the Senate Report of 1999 brought down by the Senate Sub-Committee on Veterans Affairs. The Senate Report called for a separate and independent War Museum Corporation with its own board of trustees having a significant percentage of members on the board composed of representatives from Canada’s military veterans organizations.

AGENT ORANGE Recommendation: That NCVA encourage the Government to extend the application of the Agent Orange Compensation Package so as to address the concerns as to the eligibility criteria, limitation periods and ground rules for entitlement. (Note that the cut-off date for applications was October 1, 2010.) Recommendation: That NCVA continue to recommend to the Minister of Veterans Affairs that the presumptive provisions of the Pension Act should be employed by Departmental Adjudicators in evaluating the individual applications for pension by Agent Orange victims.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 • 3 NEW VETERANS CHARTER Recommendation: It remains the high priority of NCVA, as part and parcel of our involvement with the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group, to ensure in addition to addressing the gaps and voids in the New Veterans Charter that the Minister of Veterans Affairs fulfills the Government commitment to traditional veterans that the new program’s development does not lead to any reduction in future benefits and services provided to traditional veterans and their dependants.

As mentioned, this is a listing of the highlights. For full details, reference can be made to the Legislative Program and the Annual General Meeting minutes. The Secretary General noted that it is understood that a package of legislative amendments has reached the Minister of Veterans Affairs’ desk concerning the Last Post Fund/Veterans Burial Regulations and the longstanding concern expressed by NCVA should be addressed in the near future. He added that the Legislative Program of NCVA will be the essential focus of our organization’s direction with the Canadian Government on behalf of the traditional veterans’ community.

New Veterans Ombudsman Minister of Veterans Affairs Jean-Pierre Blackburn has announced that Chief Warrant Officer (ret'd) Guy Parent will be appointed as Veterans Ombudsman for a five-year term starting on November 11, 2010. Mr. Parent served Canada for nearly four decades as a Search and Rescue Officer and as Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Forces, which is the highest appointment for a non- commissioned member. Following his retirement from the Canadian Forces in 2001, he went on to work in the offices of the National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman and of the Veterans Ombudsman, where he served as Director of Research and Investigations. The Veterans Ombudsman is an impartial, arms- length and independent officer who is directly accountable to the Minister. He provides advice to Veterans Affairs Canada on the well-being of veterans and their families. He has the mandate to New Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent review complaints arising from the Veterans Bill of Rights and issues related to programs and services Secretary General Brian Forbes has written to the new administered by the department and he facilitates Ombudsman on behalf of NCVA to congratulate access by clients to programs and services by him on his appointment and to provide him with providing them with information and referrals. a copy of the 2010 Legislative Program adopted at our recent Annual General Meeting. 4 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 Hong Kong Veteran Initiatives At the NCVA Annual General Meeting, Derrill Henderson of the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association provided an update on his group’s recent initiatives as follows:

Completion of the Hong Kong Veterans Memorial As mentioned last year, the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association unveiled and dedicated the Hong Kong Veterans Memorial Wall in , at the corner of Sussex Drive and King Edward Street. The wall is a fitting tribute to the 1,975 Canadian men and women sent to assist the British in defending Hong Kong against the Japanese invasion in the Second World War. Derrill is pleased to report that the final touches on this outstanding Memorial have now been completed. All the landscaping and stone work that remained has been done. Of special note is the addition of a Christmas tree, which will be decorated and lighted for the month of December.

Nathan M. Greenfield Petition The Damned, a recently released book by Nathan M. Greenfield, Author, has once again raised the issue about the bravery and willingness to follow orders of the that fought in Hong Kong during World War II. Through his research, Mr. Greenfield has established that British Brigadier Cedric Wallis attempted to divert his own inadequacies by blaming the Canadian units. Mr. Greenfield was so struck by the inaccurate charges laid by Brigadier Wallis that he has started a petition to ask that the Government of Canada request that the Government of the United Kingdom recognize that the “Wallis Report” contains false and erroneous charges about the Royal Rifles of Canada. NCVA is fully supportive of this petition and invites all Canadians to review and sign it. The petition is located on Facebook and may be accessed either directly or by entering “NATHAN GREENFIELD AUTHOR CANADIAN VALOUR AND THE BATTLE FOR HONG KONG PETITION” as a Google search.

Apology from Government of Japan Following unanimous agreement at the recent NCVA Annual General Meeting, Secretary General Brian Forbes has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in support of the initiative of the Hong Kong Veterans Association of Canada to obtain an apology from Japan for the treatment received by the Hong Kong PoWs during World War II. The text of the letter follows on the next page.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 • 5 November 2, 2010 Hon. Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Dear Minister: Re: Hong Kong Veterans You will have received a letter dated September 21, 2010, from Derrill Henderson, National Secretary of the Hong Kong Veterans Association of Canada, requesting that your Ministry initiate the appropriate process to ensure the obtaining of an apology from the Government of Japan with reference to the reprehensible treatment suffered by the Hong Kong POWs while being forced to work as slave labourers during World War II. At the recent Annual Meeting of the National Council of Veteran Associations, it was unanimously resolved that our Association support this initiative, and that as Secretary General, I should write directly to you seeking your assistance in this context. We would wish to advise that NCVA, and particularly The War Amputations of Canada, have worked closely with the Hong Kong Veterans Association over the years to gain appropriate pensions and health care benefits for these courageous POWs. In addition, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Hong Kong veterans in relation to their longstanding claim for compensation and recognition vis-a-vis the Government of Japan. This culminated in a number of appearances before the Commission on Human Rights, and ultimately, a Petition to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland with reference to Canada’s failure to protect the interest of these exceptional veterans. These claims under International Law were pursued in accordance with the Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and referenced the “grave breaches” of the Geneva Convention committed by the Japanese vis-a-vis these Canadian POWs following the fall of Hong Kong in 1941. Although this compensation claim was ultimately addressed by the Canadian Government through an ex- gratia payment to the Hong Kong veterans, at no time did the Japanese recognize their international moral and legal obligation in this regard nor did the Government of Japan provide an apology for the gross violations of the human rights of these Canadian soldiers. As Mr. Henderson has stated it is not without significance that on the 14th day of September, 2010, the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister apologized to a delegation of United States ex- military who were prisoners of war at the hands of the Japanese during World War II. As you will be aware from Mr. Henderson’s correspondence, this November and December a Canadian contingent shall be visiting the battle fields and War Graves cemeteries in Hong Kong and on December 7th through the 11th they shall be in Japan. One item on their itinerary is to visit the graves of those Canadians buried in the Yokohama War Graves cemetery in Yuenchi Park, Hodogaya. For those attending these ceremonies, this may indeed be the last opportunity to obtain a formal apology from the Japanese, and we would request any assistance that you are able to provide to address this long standing omission. Thanking you for your consideration of this matter. Yours very truly, Brian N. Forbes Secretary General

cc: Hon. Stockwell Day Hon. Jean-Pierre Blackburn

6 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 Merchant Navy Bar The NCVA has also recently written to the Governor General regarding our support for the creation of a distinctive Merchant Navy Bar for attachment to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (C.V.S.M.). The letter follows:

November 2, 2010

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston Governor General of Canada Rideau Hall 1 Sussex Drive Ottawa, ON K1A 0A1

Excellency,

Re: Merchant Navy Bar

I act as Secretary General of the National Council of Veteran Associations constituting 58 member organizations. You will have received a communication from one of our representative organizations, the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association Inc., setting out their request for the approval of the creation of a distinctive Merchant Navy Bar for attachment to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (C.V.S.M.). At the recent Annual Meeting of NCVA held in Toronto on October 20, 2010, it was unanimously resolved that our Association support this formal request and that I be directed to pursue this matter with your Office. As mentioned in the above-cited correspondence, numerous appeals have been initiated over the years in this regard without success. As a matter of historic background, you will be aware, Canadian Merchant Navy veterans were only recognized by the Government of Canada for pension and compensation purposes fairly recently, and many years after World War II. Once again, although other veterans groups such as the Dieppe veterans and the Hong Kong veterans have been vested with bars for attachment to the CVSM, the Merchant Navy has not received a similar designation. It is respectfully requested that this omission be addressed and that this matter be resolved promptly given the advanced age of these former members of the Merchant Navy.

Yours respectfully,

Brian N. Forbes Secretary General

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 • 7 VAC Announcements a Good First Step Over the past several months, we have seen a number of developments of significant interest to the veteran community. In September, Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn announced a substantial financial increase in programs to assist modern-day veterans and lower-ranked members of the Forces. NCVA responded with a widely-circulated news release indicating that this was a good first step in addressing the gaps and inequities identified in the New Veterans Charter, but added that there is still much to do. On November 18, the Minister tabled the new legislative amendments to the New Veterans Charter, at which time NCVA issued a further news release, which dealt with not only our reaction to the New Veterans Charter revisions, Veterans Affairs Minister but also the need to prioritize outstanding traditional veterans’ issues: Jean‑Pierre Blackburn Vets’ Group Calls VAC’s Tabling of New Although it is acknowledged that the combined Charter Legislation a Good Beginning effects of the Disability Award, the Earnings Loss Benefit and the Permanent Impairment Allowance OTTAWA, November 18, 2010 – The National will be potentially of assistance, NCVA has strongly Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) calls the argued for further forms of compensation so as to Veterans Affairs Minister’s announcement yesterday fully recognize the significant incapacity suffered in that the Department will enact a package of benefits these circumstances. As such, NCVA was pleased for veterans a good beginning in addressing the gaps to see that this was acknowledged in the proposed and inequities identified in the New Veterans Charter. legislation introduced by the Minister yesterday. In addition to the options spelled out with regard “There is no doubt that the plight of the seriously to the payment of the lump sum Disability Award, injured young private together with other seriously VAC Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn tabled disabled veterans deserves special attention insofar legislation providing for a substantial financial as the financial compensation available under the increase in programs to assist seriously-injured New Veterans Charter. The proposed addition of a veterans and lower-ranked members of the Forces, ‘catastrophic allowance’ and the enhancements to the including a “catastrophic allowance” of $1,000 a Earnings Loss Benefit and Permanent Impairment month for life for seriously-injured veterans unable Allowance will improve the financial picture for these to return to work; significant expansion of access to seriously disabled veterans,” said NCVA Secretary the Permanent Impairment Allowance for seriously- General Brian Forbes. disabled veterans and an increase to the benefit for lost earnings veterans receive while in rehabilitation “As we have previously stated, the devil is in the to provide a minimum annual income of $40,000. details, and we will be monitoring the legislative and policy changes to be enacted by the Government to As a major representative of many of the traditional ensure the targets and objectives in the Minister’s veterans’ organizations, with members suffering from announcement are achieved,” he said. serious disabilities, the 58 member-group NCVA spearheaded the recommendation that the New Mr. Forbes added that, although this current initiative Veterans Charter should be augmented to consider is helpful, the NCVA would continue to pressure the the plight of the Canadian Forces member who is Government to fully implement the recommendations medically disabled with a “catastrophic injury.” of the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group, on

8 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 which the NCVA sits, and the additional proposals that the new Program’s development does not lead to made regarding the new Charter by the Standing any reduction in future benefits and services provided Committee on Veterans Affairs. to traditional veterans and their dependants. These further reforms would include the following Although NCVA clearly acknowledges the need key elements: to enhance the New Veterans Charter as a “living” • The SISIP (Service Income Security Insurance Plan) document, it is also important to recognize that the Long-term Disability program should be eliminated specific needs of the traditional veterans’ community to remove the insurance culture constraints presently require prioritized attention. contained in the New Veterans Charter. “We trust that we need not emphasize that the average • The Earnings Loss Benefit should be increased age of the World War II veteran is approximating to 100% of pre-release income and, in relation to eighty-eight, and that the window of opportunity is permanently incapacitated veterans, be paid for life closing for the establishment of much needed revisions (not terminated at 65, as is currently the case). In to specific concerns related to the Long Term Care addition, the projected career earnings of a Canadian program (particularly intermediary care) the Last Post Force Member should be employed as the standard Fund/Veterans Burial Regulations, and the VIP for for the payment of the Earnings Loss Benefit. widows,” Mr. Forbes said. • The lump sum Disability Award should be increased commensurate with the general damages “It is a fundamental tenet of NCVA’s Legislative paid by Canadian courts. In addition, a comparable Agenda that appropriate recognition be given to the evaluation should be carried out as to the parallel fact that the ravages of age continue to impact on benefits paid by Allied countries such as the United traditional veterans and particularly seriously disabled Kingdom and Australia. veterans and their dependants.” It remains NCVA’s high priority as part and parcel “We look forward to working with VAC and the of its involvement with the New Veterans Charter Department of National Defence in expediting these Advisory Group to ensure that VAC also fulfills the essential reforms to legislation in Canada for all Government’s commitment to traditional veterans and veterans and their dependants,” he added.

Kirsty Duncan – Liberal Party Veterans Affairs Critic The new Liberal spokesperson for veterans is Kirsty Duncan (replacing Rob Oliphant). We are pleased to publish herewith excerpts of a bio‑sketch of this Member of Parliament: Kirsty Duncan is a Canadian medical geographer and current MP for the Liberal Party of Canada in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke North. She currently serves on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. After graduating from Kipling Collegiate Institute in 1985 as an Scholar, Duncan studied Geography and Anthropology at the University of Toronto. She then entered graduate school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and completed a Ph.D. in geography in 1992 Duncan was an adjunct professor teaching both medical geography at the University of Toronto and global environmental processes at Royal Roads University, and served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an organization that won the 2007 Nobel Prize with Al Gore.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 • 9 Veterans with Lou Gehrig’s to Get Benefits The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Jean Pierre obtain the help and support they need and deserve Blackburn, recently announced improved support faster than ever before. These Veterans will now for veterans with ALS. Please find below some be able to receive disability benefits, treatments excerpts from VAC’s news release: and home care support. These services are greatly The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of needed by Veterans and their families who are Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), affected by this devastating disease. For example, announced that the Government of Canada has taken they will now be eligible for adapted wheelchairs, action to improve and speed up support for Veterans medical resources, housekeeping services and more. suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). For more information on services and benefits Based on the latest medical research, our government for Canadian Forces members and Veterans, visit has made changes so that Veterans affected by ALS veterans.gc.ca. At your service... The War Amps produces an ongoing series of informative articles for its Members, with topics including understanding and accessing veterans benefits, managing medication, health, safety, falls prevention, financial planning and more. As these articles are of interest and benefit to veterans and seniors generally, we will be reprinting them in this and future issues. The first article in the series deals with information for those traveling outside of Canada. Traveller’s Insurance – category, the amount he and his spouse invested in Don’t Leave Home Without It! appropriate traveller’s insurance would have been small compared to the heavy financial burden his If your travels this winter will take you outside of widow had to face. Canada, remember to purchase traveller’s medical insurance for you and your spouse. Do not assume Regardless of the cause of a medical emergency, that VAC or your provincial health care plan will if you have not answered the questions on the cover all of your medical costs, as they will not. application for coverage accurately, the traveller’s Traveller’s insurance is absolutely necessary when insurance company will not cover your medical travelling outside Canada. costs. This applies even to pensioned disabilities, and even to those pensioners who receive 100 per When completing the application form for out-of- cent disability. For instance, even though you may Canada coverage, be sure to answer all questions be pensioned for heart disease by VAC, you must accurately – even though this could place you answer any questions on the form with regard to in a higher premium cost category. If you do heart disease accurately or your coverage will not be not provide accurate information, the insurance valid. Full disclosure and accuracy are of the utmost company could refuse to pay your claim in the importance when completing your application. event of a medical emergency. If possible, carry a list of your pensioned disabilities In the past, one of our members died while in with you at all times on your travels. This will Florida. His medical expenses were in excess of serve as a reminder of where you stand in case of a $50,000, and his traveller’s insurance company medical emergency. refused to pay the costs because he had not provided accurate information on the application form. Remember – You can avoid a financial nightmare Although answering all of the questions accurately by planning ahead. Traveller’s insurance really does may have placed him in a higher premium cost make sense. Don’t leave home without it!

10 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 Canadian Army Newsreels Released The War Amps, in cooperation with Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and veterans of the Canadian Army Film Unit, has made a complete set of The Canadian Army Newsreels available to the public for the first time, as part of its Military Heritage Series. Featuring 20 hours of footage, this six-DVD set contains 106 newsreels filmed and produced by the Canadian Army Film Unit. The front-line cameramen were soldiers first and took guns into battle along with their 35 mm movie cameras to record the Canadian infantry in action. Their heroic efforts enabled them to scoop the international press on the major events in Europe, including the invasion of Sicily and the top story of the century – D-Day. The newsreels also feature the daily routines of the soldiers behind the lines, life on the home front and historic footage of politicians and generals from the Allied and Axis countries. The newsreels were produced by the Army for soldiers serving overseas. Some footage shot by the Film Unit was also shown in home front movie theatres. The Canadian Army Newsreels holds an important place in Canada’s military history. While researchers have had access to the newsreels housed at LAC, The War Amps DVD set now makes them available to the general public at a cost-recovery price of $30. Just prior to Remembrance Day, the Newsreels were screened at the Ottawa Public Library and were featured as part of a double bill at the Mayfair Theatre in Ottawa. Both events were well attended. Peter Worthington wrote an excellent piece that was published in the as well as other Sun papers. Media reaction to this project has been outstanding. For more information, or to order The Canadian Army Newsreels set, please call 1 800 250-3030 or visit waramps.ca.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010 • 11 Monuments Committee Update At the recent NCVA meeting, Claire Roy, Secretariat, With help from the Community War Memorial gave a report based on her involvement in VAC’s Program, communities and organizations across Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Committee. She Canada will be able to build cenotaphs/monuments stated that in the program’s last budget, $5 million or major additions to existing ones, that promote and was announced for a Community War Memorial preserve the memory of all those who have served Program which would be spread over a five-year Canada since 1867. period. More information on this program follows: Guidelines have been established to review Veterans Affairs Canada is committed to partnering applications and evaluate Community War Memorial with communities across Canada to build cenotaphs/ Program projects in a fair and equitable manner. monuments and major additions to existing ones, to These guidelines will be used to assess the eligibility commemorate the achievements and sacrifices of of an applicant and the eligibility and merits of a those who served Canada in times of war, military project proposal. conflict and peace. For more information on the guidelines or for Monuments are used as gathering places for people to submitting an application, please visit the Community collectively remember those who have served Canada. War Memorial Program page at www.vac-acc.gc.ca/ They have the ability to bring Canadians together remembers or call 1 866 522-2122. for Remembrance Day services and other military Future issues of the NCVA Bulletin will carry news of anniversaries or milestones, and help ensure that cenotaphs and monuments that will be undergoing remembrance continues to be visible to Canadians in restoration work thanks to this new program. their own communities. 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion As a result of declining numbers, we are saddened to report that the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion has had to close its doors. Peter Worthington of Sun Media wrote an article about the wrapping up of this storied Canadian fighting unit. Here are some excerpts: “It’s the closing chapter of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion – arguably the most storied of all Canada’s fighting units in the Second World War. “Although the battalion officially was disbanded at war’s end in 1945, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association lived on – until the ‘final luncheon,’ when all its public activities ceased. “The reason? Age. “Members who survived the war are thin on the ground, and it’s time to wrap up the association through which old comrades stayed in touch and kept an eye on developments within Canada’s military. “Membership in the association has shrunk to about 100 across Canada. “Its current (and final) president, Jan de Vries, awarded the Order of Canada, will wrap things up with regrets, with pride and the knowledge of a job well done.” As with other organizations that have disbanded, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association will continue to be represented at the NCVA Annual General Meetings and remain on the mailing list in order that they might stay informed.

12 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 3 • Fall 2010