Military history focus of cemetery tour

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 7, 2023.

Submitted photo The IODE Field of Honour at Mountain View Cemetery.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A first-of-its-kind tour focused on veterans and military history will take place tonight at the Mountain View Cemetery conducted by Galt Museum and Archives volunteer and local military historian Warrant Officer (retired) Glenn Miller.

Miller told the Herald Wednesday he is looking forward to sharing examples of veterans that have been identified and have been provided with a grave marker during the tour among other things.

“Something that I will be asking those in attendance for is if they have stories about veterans or pictures, to share them so they can develop more biographies of veterans for future tours,” said Miller.

He said sometimes when a family member passes away who was part of the military, but had no connections after service, they leave memorabilia that unfortunately gets thrown out. Miller is hoping that instead of throwing military items away, they would share the items with the Galt Museum and Archives, so they can find a home for them wither in their own collection or in a military museum.

When it comes to the tour, Miller said tonight’s is the first of its kind. The Galt Museum and Archives offers cemetery tours within their programming, and even though they showcase some of the veterans, Miller is looking forward to enhancing the experience by focusing on the veterans side of the tour.

“I’m a veteran and a long-time volunteer at the Galt Museum and I know a lot of stories as well because I’ve been to the funerals when the veterans were buried so I knew quite a few of these fellows, and I find this to be a nice way to honour their service of both male and female,” said Miller.

He said he will also explain how veterans who lie in unmarked graves for more than five years across Canada, are honoured with a military style marker through the provincial chapters of the national charity of the Last Post Fund through their Unmarked Grave Program.

“Through the Last Post fund, when we do identify an unmarked grave, and do the research to prove through library and archives Canada their military service and their rank in their unit, once we install the stone we then hand that responsibility for perpetual care over the Veterans Affairs Canada,” said Miller.

He said the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) maintains approximately 250,000 eligible veteran grave markers in over 7,800 cemeteries across Canada.

“In some cases where the family bought a stone and add it and if it gets damaged, then it’s up to the families to fix it. If the government paid for the funeral burial or the marker, then the government will ensure maintenance,” said Miller.

For tonight’s cemetery tour those who wish to attend are required to register and they are to meet at the Immortal Flame off Scenic Drive. The tour runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and covers approximately one kilometre of walking.

“If anyone is interested in making a donation in honour of veterans, they can do it through the Last Post Fund, which helps with the grave maintenance and unmarked graves,” said Miller.

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