“We see an increase in Canadian citizens wanting to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Ian Burgess, Senior Program Officer with the Canada Remembers Program at Veterans Affairs Canada. “It seemed like a natural time to bring the Seventh Book on a cross-country tour.”
Mr. Burgess was present at the former military chapel to answer visitors’ questions and to help them look for names in the book.
With the exception of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel who died during the Korean War and whose names appear in the Korean Book of Remembrance, the Seventh Book of Remembrance contains the names of more than 1,700 CF members who have died while on active duty at home or abroad since October 1947. Dedicated on November 11, 2005, the book includes the names of those who have died in Afghanistan.
Cross-country tour
In 2011, Veterans Affairs Canada organized a cross-country tour of the Seventh Book of Remembrance to raise awareness of the Books of Remembrance but the Halifax portion was delayed because of a scheduling conflict. This is the first time that any of the books have been removed from the Peace Tower for the express purpose of a cross-country tour.The Seventh Book of Remembrance, along with the Books of Remembrance from the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean War, are normally on display in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. In all, the names of more than 118,000 Canadians who have died in major conflicts since 1884 are listed in the Books of Remembrance
To some, they are but names printed on a page. But to others, they are an eternal connection to a loved one who died in the service to our country and will forever remain a reminder of their ultimate sacrifice.
Article and photo by MCpl David McCord, Canadian Army Public Affairs, Land Force Atlantic Area, Halifax
