Flags For Our Veterans  

Where have all the flags gone?

Senior finds it's hard to honour war vets with poor quality flags that don't last

by Cathy Von Kintzel - Truro Bureau

Bass River (Nova Scotia) - Every year at about this time, Jim Chipman grabs a can of white spray paint and a handful of red poppies and small Canadian flags, 

then heads to four cemeteries in his neighborhood.  There, the senior citizen decorates veterans' graves.  But the 28 year labour of love 

has gotten more difficult over the past three years because Mr. Chipman is having a hard time getting durable fabric flags.

"I can get all of the paper ones I want, but I think that's a disgrace to our veterans," said the Bass River resident and member of the 

Great Village Royal Canadian Legion.  "They only last a month or so and then they're no good."

He and other volunteers decorate more than 550 graves in 14 cemeteries in western Colchester County (of Nova Scotia) with flags,

poppies and reusable metal crosses that need occasional paint touch-ups.  "Veterans should be honoured year-round, 

not just on Remembrance  Day," Mr Chapman said during a recent visit to one of the cemeteries he decorates.  

His small legion used to be able to provide the fabric flags, but with only 13 to 20 active members

 it became financially impossible.

The group doesn't have a bar or video lottery terminals that some legions rely on for fundraising, and proceeds from a popular bingo

 are needed to such things as paying bills, maintaining a building and hosting Remembrance Day services and banquets 

each year. "Our legion just doesn't have the finances," Mr. Chipman said.

He successfully lobbied government departments and local federal and provincial politicians to get free flags or money

 for the past three years.  He appreciated the kindness but fears those sources are drying up.  He's running out of ideas 

and is already worried about next year.  "I would like to see this in perpetuity" he said.  "I would love it 

if someone could take this in hand for us."

Mr. Chipman also wrote to Veterans Affairs Canada for help but was informed by letter that it doesn't have 

a mandate to provide such flags to groups and individuals.  It does, however, provide funeral, burial 

and grave-marking assistance to more than 2,000 veterans annually and the federal government maintains 350,000 veterans' graves.

Great Village Legion president Dan Wesley couldn't speak for other members but said he too supports using fabric flags, 

although some members were OK with the paper flag idea.  He said that despite the difficulty in getting flags,

 his branch would do the best it can to keep the program going.

 "It's important that we take time to decorate the veterans graves every year."

Surely there is a group/organization/company in Canada that could support this heart-felt project.

 If you or your friends are able to send a donation to keep this wonderful project going, it can be sent to