Tag: charity

November 11, 2012 Lest we forget – The Price of Peace and the cost of War

James Dean

The Arithmetic of War: $9 Million Compared to $9 Billion for Next Generation Fighter

The cost of War and the price of Peace

Canada has a long history of service to international human rights, diplomacy and democracy.  Technology equips every soldier, tank, battleship and fighter jet. The need to be at the forefront of weaponry and innovation is a fact.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Minister of National Defense Peter MacKay and Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney continue forth on the procurement of $9 billion F-35 contract, while Veterans have had their funeral and burial benefits frozen since 2001. The current thinking is Canada can afford $9 billion for upgrades to its airforce but in doing so can justify slashing the operational budget of Last Post Fund by some 29% (or $1 million in 2013-2014). This is why the Last Post Fund, which delivers the Veterans Affairs Funeral and Burial Program, had to launch a national fundraising campaign to the tune of $9 million in order to fully fill its mandate towards modern-day veterans not eligible for the Canadian government’s Program (those who served after WWII and Korean War). Other projects for which donation monies are required include the perpetual care of the National Field of Honour where more than 20,000 persons are interred, and the provision of permanent military-style markers for eligible veterans who lie in unmarked graves (between 20,000 and 30,000 across Canada).

Therefore $9 billion is 1,000 times the $9 million it would take to allow the Last Post Fund to meet all veterans’ needs, be they traditional or modern-day veterans.

Write your Member of Parliament

 

 

  • You can read about the Last Post Fund capital campaign here.

 

  • You can donate online here.

We ask fellow Canadians to honour Veterans’ Week November 5 to 11, culminating in Remembrance Day services at your local cenotaph.  Show your support for Veterans by letting your MP know your vote means remembering Veterans – especially in death.

Contact Jean-Pierre Goyer, Executive Director

[email protected]   Toll Free: 1 800 465-7113

Our mission is to ensure that no eligible Canadian or Allied Veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial due to insufficient funds at time of death.

The Last Post Fund

James Dean
Last Post Fund - Canadian Veterans
Last Post Fund

   We Salute You, In Memory of our Veterans $9,400,000 National Fundraising Campaign Launch.

Montreal, Québec – The Last Post Fund has embarked on a national fundraising campaign, entitled In Memory of our Veterans, with Major-General (Retired) Lewis MacKenzie, UE, CM, CMM, MSC, O.Ont, CD as Honorary Chairman for fund raising and Lieutenant-General (Retired) Lou Cuppens as Campaign Coordinator.

“For over a century, the Last Post Fund has provided dignified funerals and burials for 150,000 Canadian financially challenged Veterans”, states MGen (Ret’d) Lewis MacKenzie.

The specific use of proceeds is very well-defined with contributions (cash or in-kind) directed to these primary, urgent areas of need:

  • $1,000,000 set aside to facilitate the dignified burial of financially challenged Veterans who are not eligible for the Funeral and Burial Program
  • $1,000,000 to support the Last Post Fund’s Unmarked Grave Program, whose objective is to provide a permanent military-style marker for eligible Veterans buried in unmarked graves.  According to Veterans Affairs Canada, between 20,000 and 30,000 Veterans’ graves are unmarked throughout the country
  • $1,000,000 for purchase and clearance of new land section at the LPF National Field of Honour
  • $200,000 for renovation of the Arthur Hair Reception Centre at the National Field of Honour
  • $200,000 for road repairs and equipment
  • $6,000,000 to sustain the perpetual care fund of the LPF National Field of Honour and to support other Fields of Honour set up by the Last Post Fund

Donations can be made online. You may also fill out this form and mail it at the address indicated thereon, or by phone 1 (800) 465-7113.

Several advantages are offered to donors as specified in our Donor Recognition Program.

Mission: The Last Post Fund (LPF) is a non-profit organization whose mission, since 1909, is to ensure that no eligible Canadian or Allied Veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial due to insufficient funds at time of death. The LPF delivers the Funeral and Burial Program on behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada.

National Office, 505 René-Lévesque Blvd West, Suite 401 Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1Y7

Toll-Free: 800-465-7113   Email: [email protected]

Registered Charity No. 11900 9181 RR0002 – Receipts for income tax purposes will be issued.

Last Post Fund                                   www.lastpostfund.ca

www.fondsdusouvenir.ca

www.facebook.com/lastpostfund

Veterans Affairs Canada               www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/bereavement/gravevac

www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/deuil/aide

Campaign coverage:  http://www.cbj.ca/features/aug_12_features/the_last_post_fund.html

Keywords:  Canadian Armed Forces, Merchant Navy Veteran, Second World War, WWII, Korean War, deceased Veterans, non-profit organization, funeral, burial, military style gravemarker, grave marker, disability benefit, National Field of Honour, Allied Veteran, Allied Forces, Canadian Forces, Canadian Government, military families, The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Navy, Air Force, Army, final resting place, bravery, valour, honour, duty, unmarked grave, Pointe-Claire, PQ, Modern Day Veterans, donor recognition, benevolent, LCol, Lieutenant-Colonel, Major-General, LGen, Lieutenant-General, gift-in-kind, philanthropy, philanthropist, charity, donation, not-for-profit

This press release was graciously provided as gift-in-kind by Money.ca for which we are grateful and hereby recognize as “Friend” of the In Memory of our Veterans campaign.

Jean-Pierre Goyer, Executive Director   Toll-Free:  1 (800) 465-7113

Canadians ready to help Haiti Earthquake Victims

James Dean

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Military medics have begun treating Haitian earthquake survivors as the Canadian relief effort continues to expand. For the past two days they have been supporting a Belgian relief team at a makeshift clinic treating overflow patients from a neighbouring hospital. There are currently more than 115 Canadian military personnel in the country busy preparing for the Disaster Assistance Relief Team.

Canadian police officers posted with the UN have been acting as escorts for search and rescue teams. Today, a Dominican operation pulled out an elderly woman who had been pinned in her apartment since Tuesday’s earthquake.Consular officials have so far evacuated more than 500 Canadians, with two planes due to arrive in Canada today.