Services

Veterans who survived the horrors of WWI were having a difficult time surviving in peace time. There were no allowances of Veterans Assistance of any kind. The Veterans who died and had no means of providing a decent burial were simply buried in Potters field. There were two caring ex-servicemen, Major Joe Brown and Clarence Foster, who were very moved by these conditions and vowed to help in some way.

In 1926 they formed a volunteer group of concerned Veterans in the Windsor area. This dedicated group of veterans gave freely of their time and money to buy caskets and burial plots for the less fortunate. They freely volunteered their time to maintain the burial area of all those they assisted. Their success was limited because of the large demand and the shortage of funds.

In 1933 in the middle of the Great Depression, they expanded and formed the Windsor Grave Committee. They invited all Veterans Services to send a representative to sit on the committee. They were now able to undertake a larger amount of commitments. The financial ability to fund these projects was received by donations from all Veterans Service Clubs and the general public.

WWII added new challenges to their ability to move forward and the request for financial assistance became even greater. They approached cemetery owners and were able to convince them to donate hundreds of burial plots. They established Veteran burial sections in each of the cemeteries for Veterans and their spouses.

Another very important service this committee provides is a dignified and honourable Veteran memorial service for even those veterans who did not belong to the Veterans Service Association. We are more than willing to show their families that we care.

It would be impossible to relate all that the committee has accomplished in 70 years and the list of their good deeds would never end. The founding members have given us a challenge and we will continue to honour their traditions as long as we can. We pray that others after us will carry on the torch and the commitment to all Veterans and their families. Veterans fought and died for our freedom and democracy and we will always remember them.

To our knowledge there are no other groups of this kind in Canada or the World who provides these services voluntarily.

We Will Remember Them!