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Did you know that...

About the Last Post Fund

• Arthur Hair devoted 38 years of his life to the organization he founded in Montreal in 1909?

• Since its inception, the Last Post Fund has arranged funerals, burial and grave markers for more than 145,000 Canadian veterans?

• These veterans originate from Canada, but also from Britain, Australia, Belgium, France, Poland, South Africa and other Allied countries?

• From 1995 until today, the Last Post Fund has spent nearly $125 million on funeral, burial and grave marking expenses for veterans?

• The Last Post Fund’s action can be witnessed in 2,919 cemeteries throughout the country?

• Since 1930, more than 20,000 veterans and their spouses have been interred at the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire, Québec?

• Some 295 interments were made at the National Field of Honour for the year 2008 alone?

• Over a 10-year period (1999-2008), there has been an annual average of 188 interments of veterans and 132 of close family members at the National Field of Honour?

• For the financial year 2007-2008, more than 14,000 cases have been evaluated by the Last Post Fund as part of its Funeral and Burial Program?

• For the year 2007-2008, the Last Post Fund has paid some $7.5 million to the estate of veterans as part of the Funeral and Burial Program?

• For the year 2007-2008, the Last Post Fund has paid for the installation of 884 grave markers throughout the country?

• The client satisfaction rate for the Last Post Fund’s Funeral and Burial Program is 96%?

About the great conflicts of the 20th century

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada

• Nearly 7,000 Canadians fought in the South African War (1899-1902) with 267 soldiers losing their lives?

• Close to 650,000 Canadians–on a total population of less than 8 millions–served in the First World War (1914-1918), although Canada had a standing army of only 3,100 men?

• Some 68,000 Canadians died during the First World War?

• According to Veterans Affairs Canada, A/Lance-Corporal John Babcock, who will be 109 years-old in July 2009, is Canada's last known First World War veteran?

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=department/press/jbabcock

• More than 1,000,000 Canadians fought in the Second World War (1939-1945) and 47,000 lost their lives?

• More than 5,000 soldiers died in the dramatic Battle of Normandy (1944) in which 90,000 Canadians were involved?

• In March 2008, the estimated number of living veterans from the World War II was 184,110 (23,890 are women)?

• In 2009, the average age of the Second World War veterans is 86 years?

• More than 26,000 men served in the Canadian Army Special Force during the Korean War (1950-1953) where 516 lost their lives?

• As of March 2008, there is an estimated number of 13,340 veterans (1,450 women) from the Korean War and their average age is now 77 years?

• In 2008, there were 589,060 veterans in the Canadian Forces (Regular Forces and Primary Reserves) and their average age was 54 years?

• Since 1947, some 150,000 Canadians have served in peacekeeping missions and foreign military operations?