Last WW1 Vet to receive state funeral

[Barbara Moulton]

OTTAWA — Canada will mark the death of its last veteran of the First World War with a state funeral, although it still has to decide if that would include one man who moved to the United States decades ago.

Lloyd Clemett, 106, John Babcock, 106, and Dwight Wilson, 105, are the last of more than 619,000 Canadian veterans of the 1914-1918 conflict that some historians say helped define Canada as an independent nation in battles such as Vimy Ridge.

Parliament unanimously approved a measure today to mark the last veteran's death with an honour normally reserved for former prime ministers.

[Marilyn Lawson]

Isn't it great that the Canadian Goverment can finally agree on something that is totaly deserved.

Marilyn

[Mark Doble]

It is about time.

[Barbara Moulton]

Reading the follow up news coverage of this today I had to re-think my enthusiasm. One of the veterans has declined the honour. He has become a US citizen and never saw action so he doesn't feel he should have the honour.

The other two vets and their families seem a little bit ambivalent as well. I thought to myself...in all of the push to do this, did anybody bother to ask the vets and families themselves if they wanted this?

I thought about it a little bit more. If my father lived to over 100, I think when he left this earth our family would want a simple and joyous celebration....marking all that he was for his entire life. Not a state funeral focused on something he did when he was a young man. Imagine all the hassles for a family in a state funeral.

So...although initially I was applauding this decision, now I am wondering if it was like many things that happen. Someone "up top" decides it would be something that is desired, yet they never talk to those who it will affect the most.

[Mark Doble]

Reading the follow up news coverage of this today I had to re-think my enthusiasm. One of the veterans has declined the honour. He has become a US citizen and never saw action so he doesn't feel he should have the honour.

The other two vets and their families seem a little bit ambivalent as well. I thought to myself...in all of the push to do this, did anybody bother to ask the vets and families themselves if they wanted this?

I thought about it a little bit more. If my father lived to over 100, I think when he left this earth our family would want a simple and joyous celebration....marking all that he was for his entire life. Not a state funeral focused on something he did when he was a young man. Imagine all the hassles for a family in a state funeral.

So...although initially I was applauding this decision, now I am wondering if it was like many things that happen. Someone "up top" decides it would be something that is desired, yet they never talk to those who it will affect the most.

Why not pass legislation now ok-ing a state funeral for this one case, wait until the last guy dies, then ask the family...