As Remembrance Day approaches, volunteers in Manitoba are working to identify veterans buried in unmarked graves, hoping to ensure that those who served Canada receive the recognition and permanent military headstones they deserve.
The initiative is being supported by the Last Post Fund, a national organization dedicated to ensuring that no veteran is denied a dignified funeral, burial or military grave marker because of financial difficulties.
In Manitoba, volunteers are reviewing cemetery records and comparing names with military service documents to identify individuals who may have served in Canada’s armed forces but were buried without a proper headstone.
Matthew Halpin, president of the Last Post Fund’s Manitoba branch, is encouraging residents across the province to help identify possible unmarked veterans’ graves.
He said information from relatives, friends and community members could help researchers locate veterans whose military service might otherwise remain unknown.
The organization is particularly interested in receiving information from people who know of former service members buried without a permanent marker.
Volunteers Dig Through Historical Records
In Brandon, volunteer George MacKay has been dedicating several hours each week to researching cemetery records and identifying possible veterans.
Working alongside another volunteer, MacKay reviews burial lists and compares names with Canadian military records to establish whether individuals served during previous conflicts.
One of the locations they have investigated is the former Brandon Mental Health Centre cemetery, where approximately 1,700 burial records are being examined.
MacKay has been working on the project for about three years, going through the records alphabetically to identify individuals who may qualify for military headstones.
The research can be lengthy because volunteers must establish military service and gather supporting documentation before an application can be submitted.
So far, the volunteers have submitted several applications for headstones in the Westman region, including approximately six applications connected to their research.
MacKay said seeing the results of their efforts has made the work worthwhile. Two veterans identified through the research have already received headstones in Birtle and Minnedosa.
Veterans Buried Without Recognition
Many veterans were buried without permanent military markers because their families could not afford the cost or because their military backgrounds were not known to those arranging their burials.
The Last Post Fund’s Unmarked Grave Program helps address this problem by providing permanent military markers for eligible veterans whose graves have remained without a headstone or foot marker for at least five years.
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, the programme began in 1996 and has resulted in approximately 7,000 markers being placed on previously unmarked graves across the country.
The initiative also includes an Indigenous Veterans Initiative, which helps recognize Indigenous veterans buried without military markers and allows traditional names to be added to existing markers.
Public Encouraged to Help
Halpin said public participation is essential because volunteers cannot identify every unmarked grave through cemetery records alone.
He is asking Manitobans to contact the Last Post Fund if they know of a relative, friend or community member who served in the military but does not have an appropriate grave marker.
The organization can then investigate the information and determine whether the individual qualifies for assistance.
As communities prepare to observe Remembrance Day, the initiative highlights another way Canadians can honour those who served their country.
For the volunteers involved, finding an unmarked veteran’s grave is not simply an exercise in historical research. It is an opportunity to restore recognition to individuals whose contributions might otherwise have been forgotten.
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