The demographic changes in the Veterans population over time have led to some reflection internally on how best to adapt to the changing needs of this population, while supporting our new volunteers eager to offer their assistance as researchers. In 2019, the Last Post Fund launched the Indigenous Veterans Initiative as a way of more directly focusing outreach efforts on the Indigenous communities. In much the same spirit, we are launching today the Lost Veterans Initiative. This initiative aims to stimulate and to support new and ongoing research efforts to find unmarked Veterans graves.

In order to support their ongoing efforts, and the efforts of new volunteers, the Lost Veterans Initiative has created a welcome package, a sort of information toolkit designed to assist volunteers with their research. In addition, research volunteers will be given a t-shirt that identifies them as a researcher for the Lost Veterans Initiative. As the UMG Sub-committee Chair and VP West on the LPF governing council, Randy Brooks will be the national lead for the Lost Veterans Initiative. Researchers working with their provincial leads will have direct access to support from our knowledgeable LPF counsellors when it comes time to submit a preliminary application for a headstone.

Says Brooks, "Our amazing Volunteer Researchers are our army, our "boots on the ground", who find Canada's long-lost Veterans who lay forgotten in unmarked graves. They find them and identify them to the Last Post Fund so they can finally be marked with proper military headstones. Forgotten no more, these heroes can be properly recognized for their service and their sacrifice. By their actions in finding our forgotten Veterans our Volunteer Researchers give deeper meaning to the words Lest We Forget!"

All inquires should, as always, be directed to the Last Post Fund at: 1-800-465-7113 | info@lastpost.ca.