Get to know the National Military Cemetery

July 20, 2023 – Defence Stories

By: Captain Yanick Hamel, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group Public Affairs Officer

Since 2001, the role of the National Military Cemetery (NMC) has been to honour Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans who served the nation with distinction, to give them a final resting place that reflects the respect and gratitude of all Canadians for their service and sacrifice.

The cemetery provides a resting place for thousands of members who have served their country in war and peace and honours those who have placed themselves in harm’s way on behalf of Canadians. It brings together all those who died on active service, whose death was related to service, or who served honourably and have chosen to rest among their peers.

The NMC is part of Beechwood Cemetery. Celebrating its 150^th anniversary, Beechwood is one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in the National Capital Region. Declared a national historic site in 2001, Beechwood is the final resting place for many of Canada’s war heroes including Veterans from the nation’s earliest campaigns, the World Wars, and recent United Nations campaigns. Many historical Canadians are also buried at the cemetery including former governor generals, prime ministers and other important Canadian historical figures.

The NMC has also become a venerated focal point for many allied nations’ Remembrance ceremonies and other commemorations that honour the military throughout the year with participation of the public, such as Remembrance Day, Dutch Liberation Day, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Day, Victory in Europe Day, Ukraine Remembrance, and Latin-American Remembrance Ceremony.

News about religious and spiritual symbols for military headstones

To this day, the NMC continues to ensure that it serves the interment wishes of CAF members and Veterans. Adding to the already existing nine religious and spiritual symbols available to display on headstones, NMC recently unveiled two additional symbols, representing Indigenous Spirituality: The First Nations Medicine Wheel and the Métis Infinity symbol. A symbol representing ancestral Inuit spirituality is also being developed by artists and leaders of the Inuit community. It should be officially unveiled in the coming months.

Hall of Colours

Did you know the NMC has a place called the The Hall of Colours? The retired Colours of commands, regiments and branches are mounted at ceiling level. Following tradition, these flags will remain honorably suspended and untouched, until they completely disintegrate. The area is for exclusive use of military members and Veterans.

Eligibility

Anyone serving or honorably discharged from the CAF is eligible to be buried at the NMC along with one other family member of their choice. To submit an application, please complete the DND 2277-E on Canada.ca [PDF-1.6MB].

Learn more:

• National Military Cemetery: Facebook page
• National Military Cemetery (NMC)