by Ray Dick

photo: Ray dick

Veterans Affairs Minister John McCallum places a wreath.

A cold rain dampened enthusiasm and kept many of the expected spectators away from Brampton’s Meadowvale Cemetery on the Sunday afternoon of May 2. But the show went on regardless as a section of the cemetery was dedicated as the Last Post Fund Ontario Field of Honour, a hallowed burial ground for veterans and eligible civilians.

“This dedication ceremony honours all Canadian veterans, including those who fought and those who have stood ready to fight…,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Evelyn Kelly who as president of the board of directors of the Ontario Branch of the Last Post Fund stood under an umbrella to welcome veterans, serving military members and other dignitaries to the event.

She especially welcomed the handful of veterans from the Legion branches in the area and from the Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Science Centre in Toronto who braved the inclement weather huddling under a small canvas canopy to watch the ceremony. With them was the guest of honour, Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman and Veterans Affairs Minister John McCallum.

There was no shelter from the rain however for the guard of honour from the Royal Canadian Regiment from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, a regiment that has just returned from duty in Afghanistan, or for the band provided by the Lorne Scots Regiment.

The dedication service got underway with speeches by the invited guests, most of which were cut short in consideration for the spectators who stood huddled under umbrellas in the Field of Honour section that lies adjacent to the Wall of Honour erected in 1997 to honour veterans of the Korean War.

Retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie, the Canadian soldier who led United Nations forces in Yugoslavia in 1992, spoke briefly, as did Brigadier-General Marc Lessard, commander of Land Force Central Area in Ontario. Both men spoke of the need to ensure that the veterans are looked after, including the young soldiers serving today. And McCallum added that he considers expanded benefits for younger veterans as a top priority.

The lieutenant-governor then unveiled the stone monument for the Field of Honour, a bronze plaque set in stone with the words: ”To honour and protect in death seems but a small return to those who have protected their country in life.” Captain Craig Cameron, chaplain of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, led the dedication service.

Wreaths were then placed, led by the lieutenant-governor and followed by McCallum and Brigadier-General Richard Genin, national president of the Last Post Fund. Jim Lebinowicz, president of Maj. W. D. Sharpe Branch in Brampton, placed a wreath on behalf of the Legion, Lessard for the Royal Canadian Regiment, Norris Zucchet for the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries and Angela Aquino for Meadowvale Cemetery.

“The Last Post Fund is proud to be able to provide this Field of Honour here in Ontario for our veterans,” said Kelly. The fund originally purchased 32 plots in the new Field of Honour section. Five veterans have already been buried there, so five more plots will be purchased. There are 240 spaces available in the section set aside for the Field of Honour.

The fund has been in existence since 1909 and has as its principal purpose to ensure that no veteran or civilian who meets wartime service eligibility criteria is denied a dignified funeral and burial for lack of funds.

“Our first ceremony was carried out for a veteran of the Crimean War in our first Field of Honour located on Mount Royal in Montreal,” she said. “In addition…there are also interred veterans from the Fenian Raids, the Riel Rebellion, the South African War, the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

“Here the seaman lies beside the general who lies beside the constable with no regard for rank, colour, creed or financial status but as brothers in arms.”

The fund took on a national commitment over the years, and Fields of Honour were established across the country, some in areas set aside in private or municipal cemeteries. The Meadowvale section will be wholly owned by the Last Post Fund.

Alex Bialosh, national executive director of the Last Post Fund, said that in Meadowvale the Fund negotiated and purchased the parcel of land and the plots and will administer and manage the area. Last year the Last Post Fund handled 2,600 cases across the country, and a few outside of Canada. The organization got $11 million from Veterans Affairs, plus another $100,000 for its program to rectify unmarked graves of veterans. Other funds came from private donations to the registered charity.