Canada's last WW1 vet dies

[ThistleDown]

The service for Jack was held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Spokane attended by several Canadian dignataries. Gen. Walter Natynczyk, chief of Canada's defence staff and Canada's top soldier was one of them "He captured the spirit of adventure and was a beacon for the 650,000 Canadians who volunteered in the Great War," he said. To honour Babcock's passing Natynczyk, Veteran Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn and members of the Canadian Army and Babcock's Royal Canadian Regiment presented Jack's widow with the Canadian flag that was flying over the Peace Tower in Ottawa on the day he died and a Canadian regimental flag.

[Lallans]

News Item: "The federal government has set aside a special day to honour Canadians who served in the First World War. Vimy Ridge Day will be held Friday, April 9, at the National War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-PierreBlackburnannounced yesterday. Speaking at the Vimy Gallery at the Canadian War Museum, Mr. Blackburn said the ceremony will honour First World War Canadian servicemen and women and pay tribute to their achievements and contributions. The announcement follows the death of Canada's last known First World War veteran, John Babcock, who died on Feb. 18 at theageof 109. Other ceremonies of remembrance will be held across Canada and at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France and the Canada Memorial at Green Park in London. "

Vimy Ridge Day was already established in Canada. A link to a National War Memorial webcam is here:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather_cams/cmon0061

I used to work nearby the War Memorial, not nearly so close now, but will have to try and attend the service that day.