OTTAWA — After a lifetime spent moving around the world with the Canadian military, Daniel Therrien says he has no home town to return to — but he knows where he wants to be laid to rest.
A 28-year military veteran, now serving in the reserves, Therrien says he’s determined to be buried in Canada’s first National Military Cemetery, officially opened Thursday by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson.
“For myself, it’s a sense of pride and honor to be able to be laid to rest here,” Therrien said after the interfaith dedication service, carried live on major television networks.
Amid all the pomp the military could muster, Defense Minister Art Eggleton said the cemetery for fallen warriors and peacekeepers would be a “beautiful, peaceful setting for reflection and for remembrance.”
Unlike other countries, Canada has not had an official national military cemetery and veterans groups have long pressed Ottawa to designate one.
About 17,300 war dead rest in the National Field of Honor near Montreal, which had been described as Canada’s only military cemetery for veterans.
Almost 100,000 Canadian war veterans lie beneath the soil of Europe, buried where they fell in two world wars.
