bpsbassman Posted November 21, 2006 Report Posted November 21, 2006 Nice to know that a few OFNers helped make a differrence. The petition was posted on the old board and it looks like the government listened for a change! The House of Commons has voted unanimously in favour of having a state funeral when the last Canadian veteran of the First World War dies. The motion, introduced by the NDP, asked the government to honour all who served in the First World War by sponsoring a state funeral. Of the 619,636 Canadians who served between 1914 and 1918, only three are still alive: Percy Wilson, 105, and Lloyd Clemett and John Babcock, both 106. A state funeral is one of the highest honours a country can bestow on a person, but they're traditionally reserved for prime ministers and governors general. The motion was prompted by an online petition launched by the Dominion Institute, a national organization that promotes Canadian history. "We want to thank the tens of thousands of Canadians who signed our petition in support of state funeral," Rudyard Griffiths, the director of the Dominion Institute, said in a statement. "By passing a motion to offer a full state funeral today the Parliament of Canada will allow a grateful nation to pay proper tribute to our last Great War veteran on his passing and honour the over 600,000 Canadians he served with under arms from 1914-1918." The Institute said that since Nov. 6, around 100,000 Canadians had signed the petition.
steve_paul Posted November 21, 2006 Report Posted November 21, 2006 That's good news Roger. Thanks for posting it.
Garyv Posted November 21, 2006 Report Posted November 21, 2006 For once all our elected officals agreed on something, at least they all showed some common sense. One point aboput one of the three remaining soldiers is "Jack Babcock, one of the three surviving Canadian veterans, has lived in the United States since 1924 and would not be entitled to a state funeral in Canada, something Mr. Babcock says he understands." If he is the last to pass then I would hope the Government would some sort of government sanctiond service honoring all who served.
bpsbassman Posted November 21, 2006 Author Report Posted November 21, 2006 Interesting point Gary. No matter where he has lived the past 80 years (wow), he put his life on the line for fellow Canadians at the time. Hopefully the gov't wouldn't bungle it.
b2kptbo Posted November 21, 2006 Report Posted November 21, 2006 Good news indeed, thanks for the followup...
fishindevil Posted November 21, 2006 Report Posted November 21, 2006 thats such good news i am glad i was a part of that happining,that soldier deserves that for sure
bigbuck Posted November 21, 2006 Report Posted November 21, 2006 I would think that a State funeral for the last survivor would include a tribute to all those who gave their lives for King and Country (I'm talking about back then, not now). It's a great idea, especially for the young kids out there now who have never spoken to a WWI vet to hear some stories about life in the trenches.
Ron Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 That is good to hear. Thanks for the initial post on this as well BPSBassman.
Rizzo Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 only three left? give it to all of them, I don't care where they live now or where they have been living
Rich Clemens Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 That is great and so much well deserved. Too bad, being south of the border, I couldn't vote with the rest of you.
Rattletrap2 Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 Just the fact that all three of them have lived 105 to 106 years after what they went through, is deserving enough for me to want to see them all receive the same honour!
1leggedangler Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 Bravo!! I hope they televise this fitting tribute so that the younger generations can appreciate the sacrifices our men and woman gave.
wuchikubo Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 1Leg, I thought all state funerals were televised. It would truly a dumb thing if this wasn't a televised event. Give yourselves a pat on the back for all those to assisted with the petition! Well Done!
lunkerbasshunter Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 awesome news!!! What a great thing to do! Cheers!
lew Posted November 22, 2006 Report Posted November 22, 2006 (edited) It's good that we were able to contibute in our small way to help make this a reality. My Grandfather served with the British Army in WW1 and fought from the trenches in Europe for 4 years, and fortunately survived and lived till the ripe old age of 85, even though he was hit by shrapnel and carried pieces of it in his body his entire life. Another time him & his crew were trapped in a dead-end ravine while several dozen Germans moved in on them, but he was able to climb out, circle behind them and kill them all, allowing his men to get out safely. For that he was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery When I was very small he wouldn't tell me much about the war, but as we both grew older he started to open up and told me some things they went thru over there that were absolutely unbelievable. It's hard to understand what some human beings can do to others I spose it's easy for us to say we understand, but for those of us that haven't experienced it, there is NO way in the world we'll EVER understand what those guys went thru, and awarding them all with a State Funeral is the very least we can do for them. Edited November 22, 2006 by lew
Rich Clemens Posted November 23, 2006 Report Posted November 23, 2006 Several years ago my daughter and I were travelling through Western Europe and stopped at the Canadian memorial at Vimmy Ridge. It sure made you think about H*ll on earth and what those men had to go through. Seeing the trenches, artillery craters. They won't let people walk on the battlefield because there may still be live ammunition scattered about ... after almost 90 years. I can't imagine what living through that would have been like. I still think of my visit there from time to time. Just travelling the roads through France, seems like there is some type of miliatry cemetary every several miles. It was a very somber moment for me visiting that site and the bravery of those Canadian Soldiers. My hat's to all of them. I wonder how many are yet still alive here in the states ?
snag Posted November 23, 2006 Report Posted November 23, 2006 only three left? give it to all of them, I don't care where they live now or where they have been living Absolutely. Don't wait till the last one.
Carp Posted November 24, 2006 Report Posted November 24, 2006 As mentioned already, it's the least we can do. I have the utmost respect for these war vets. If anyone gets the chance, sit down and have a chat with one of them. Amazing stories. Not just about war, but life in general.
verno Posted November 24, 2006 Report Posted November 24, 2006 Good on them, I agree with the others, let all three of them have the honour of a state funeral.
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