The Last Post!

There's a lot of stuff the government tries to do on the cheap, but burying our veterans if they don't have any money shouldn't be one of them!

Even though I am a pacifist by nature and inclination, I still think that if someone is patriotic enough to serve in the military then we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

Listen to this.........! Canadian Forces members currently serving are entitled to a maximum $12,700 if they die, but the families of war veterans who cannot afford funeral services are entitled only to a maximum of $3,600 — a figure that hasn’t changed since 2001.

Even the non-for-profit corporation that administers Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)’s funeral and burial program believes the amount is far too low.

The Last Post Fund’s Rene Auger told QMI Agency it was unfortunate veterans are being treated this way. “I cannot do anything. Unfortunately, my hands are tied,” he said.

The funeral and burial program was set up to ensure no veteran would be buried in a common grave with no identification, Auger said. VAC pays the lowest costs for burials and extra fees for cremation services.

Costs to bury a vet vary drastically across the country, from $620 in Newfoundland to $6,285 in British Columbia.

The Last Post Fund said the average cost was $4,149.

Last year, financial assistance was granted to 1,541 vets.

The Funeral Service Association of Canada’s Suzanne Scott said she’s written many letters to the department urging an increase. Her members are legally obliged to provide certain types of services and many end up “absorbing” the extra costs, she said.

An internal audit of VAC program in 2009 also recommended the department amend its law to give “appropriate consideration of the cost of funerals.”

“There is a consensus of opinion there, everybody is thinking that VAC is behind the eight ball on this one,” said Guy Parent, the new veterans ombudsman.

Remember folks, old soldiers don't just fade away.........., they die!