Geoff Logue and Derek Kliever have cleaned over 130 veteran, veteran family and extended family tombstones over the last two weeks at the Virden cemetery.
On July 13, Senior Program Advisor for Veterans Affairs Canada based out of Charlottetown, PE, Emile Gallant, met with Logue and Kliever at Virden cemetery to discuss and inspect the veteran tombstones’ conditions.
Gallant talked with Logue and Kliever about some of their concerns, such as leaning tombstones, damaged tombstones, the different heights of veteran tombstones, and the faded engraving on some of the tombstones. He talked about which issues Veterans Affairs Canada can work on, with permission from family members of the passed veteran. Work to repair and fix damaged tombstones can be contracted out by Veterans Affairs Canada.
The Senior Program Advisor explained that the different designs of the tombstones, can be a result of what the family chose at the time of burial. He also said that different eras had different tombstone designs and heights that could be attributed to the differences among veteran tombstones.
Gallant also informed Logue and Kliever about a program that the Legion can apply for, which covers up to fifty percent of costs related to updating or repairing the veteran cenotaph. Logue has put a temporary pole and Canadian flag at the cenotaph, but would like to see a permanent flag and pole displayed.
Logue says he and Kliever still have approximately 100 tombstones left to clean at the Virden cemetery. They aren’t quitting when they finish the Virden cemetery either. They plan on going to the Elkhorn cemetery next, other surrounding small towns, and even Brandon cemetery.
– (l-r) Veterans Affairs Canada Senior Program Advisor, Emile Gallant, Geoff Logue, and Derek Kliever at Virden cemetery Jul. 13 inspecting cleaned tombstones.
Over 100 veterans and veterans’ family tombstones still need cleaning and repairs at Virden cemetery.
