YORKTON – The Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation, a registered federal charity, was established in 2003 in St. Albert, Alta.
The foundation was the brainchild of Mark Norman, a retired military officer, who believed that “we should never forget the people that have lost their lives overseas and in Canada,” according to Toni Hall, researcher for the foundation.
The foundation’s mission is to create memorials with a complete biography from birth to death for each fallen hero. These memorials are placed in the towns that the soldiers called home.
“We started doing memorials with a complete biography from birth to death,” Hall said, “we place those memorials in the towns which the soldier called home.”
In addition, the memorials are posted online for family members who no longer live in the area, allowing them to see the work that has been done.
“As we get the memorials out to their community we also post them online for the family members who don’t live there anymore so that they can see the work that we’ve done,” Hall explained.
The memorials come in the form of a 12" by 18" waterproof metal art memorial. Some of these were on display at the City of Yorkton's Remembrance Day Ceremony on Nov. 11.
Hall, who has been with the foundation since 2007, explained that the process of creating the memorials involves extensive research. This includes identifying the soldier’s hometown, their school, parents, children, hobbies, and military information such as who they served with and how they died.
Despite the importance of their work, the foundation struggles with funding.
“We’re a donor driven charity,” Hall said, adding that there are currently between 15 and 17 of the memorial plaques on display at the Royal Canadian Legion General Alexander Ross Branch No. 77 in Yorkton.
Recently, the foundation received a letter of support from the local legion, signed by President Brittany Johnson.
"We are pleased to endorse the Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation and pledge our support in any way possible. We look forward to continuing to work together in the pursuit of a shared goal—to ensure that the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes are never forgotten so that their names live of forever," read the letter of support.
The foundation has seen success in neighbouring areas. For instance, after a plaque was sent to a donor in Moosomin, the local legion there ended up creating over 110 memorials in less than a year.
“The Legion saw it and said, ‘Oh my lord we need all of these,'" said Hall.
However, Hall emphasized that more support is needed.
“I wouldn’t live long enough to do the amount of people that we have from Yorkton without the community’s support,” she said.
For those interested in supporting the foundation, donations can be made through the Canadian Fallen Heroes website at CanadianFallenHeroes.com or directly to the Legion. Tax receipts are available for those who require them.
Despite the challenges, Hall remains passionate about the foundation’s mission.
“I’m very passionate about what I do,” she said. Over the years, Hall said she has written and researched almost 100,000 people.
"The Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation is dedicated to honouring the memory of Canada’s Fallen Heroes by sharing their stories and ensuring that all Canadians have free and easy access to our military history. They are committed to preserving the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and fostering a deep and lasting appreciation for their service and sacrifice among all citizens," read an article on the foundation's website.
For more information, visit CanadianFallenHeroes.com
