Volunteers sought to identify unmarked graves
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2020 (2004 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Although the Brandon Municipal Cemetery includes an expansive area for military personnel, not all veterans are afforded this dignity.
Many are buried without a proper military marker, which the volunteers behind The Last Post Fund Unmarked Grave Program consider a wrong they are striving to right.
In order to meet this goal, they’re seeking volunteers to help identify unmarked graves throughout the province.
The volunteers for Manitoba’s branch of the national organization are based in Winnipeg, branch president Robert Orzechowski said, adding that this leaves much of the province underserved.
“We’re always trying to expand our membership,” he said. “It’s always difficult to get members outside of Winnipeg.”
The Last Post project started in 1908 after a homeless veteran died in Montreal. Rather than allow his body to remain unclaimed and turned over to science for medical research, orderly Arthur Hair opted instead to raise money to give the soldier a dignified funeral and burial.
Since then, the Montreal-based national program estimated they have assisted nearly 150,000 servicemen and women with financial benefits.
Veterans Affairs estimates there are still thousands of unmarked graves in Canada.
“How many are in Manitoba?” Orzechowski asked. “I don’t know.”
That’s where volunteers come into play.
“We need to get out there and contact the funeral directors, the cemetery administration staff — we’re basically tasked with finding unmarked graves.”
It often comes down to visiting a cemetery in person, where the volunteer will cross-check burial listings with what they can physically see on site.
Sometimes, family members of veterans will let the Last Post Fund’s volunteers know about unmarked graves.
Regardless of how they are discovered, the Last Post Fund is available to install a property military marker, or marker of any sort that recognizes their military service.
Once these markers are installed, Veterans Affairs Canada kicks in and maintains and repairs them in perpetuity.
A Royal Canadian Air Force veteran of 42 years, Orzechowski said it’s important that military veterans are afforded the recognition they deserve.
The markers “commemorate the service these veterans have given to their country and recognize their service.”
With approximately 1,000 cemeteries in Manitoba, Orzechowski said he’s keen on hearing from anyone willing to conduct a search of a nearby cemetery or eager to reach out with any information that might be of use.
Orzechowski can be contacted by email at bob.orzechowski@lastpostfund.ca, and more information about The Last Post, including how to donate, can be found online at lastpostfund.ca.
» tclarke@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB