Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Historica-Dominion Institute mourns the passing of John Babcock, Canada's last veteran of the Great War.
Mr. Babcock was Canada's last living link to the generation who served and died in the First World War. Read his story in the Institute's Memory Project Digital Archive.
Join us in urging the Government of Canada to declare a National Day of Commemoration - in his honour and in honour of the more than 600,000 Canadians who served, and 68,000 who died, in the First World War.
A National Day of Commemoration will give all Canadians - young and old - an opportunity to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of an entire generation of brave men and women and to reflect on the impact that the First World War had on our country.
A National Day of Commemoration for all Canadian veterans of the First World War could be held on April 9, 2010 - Vimy Ridge Day.
Join more than 1,100 Canadians on our Facebook group calling for a "National Day of Commemoration".
State Funeral
On November 21, 2006, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion to offer a state funeral for the last veteran of the First World War. The motion was a response to an online petition by The Institute, which was signed by more than 90,000 Canadians.
The Institute has learned that the Babcock family has declined the offer of a state funeral made by the Government. We fully respect their wishes and offer them our condolences.
The torch of remembrance has now been passed from Mr. Babcock's generation to ours.
Lest we forget.
The Historica-Dominion Institute
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