7 November 2024

Re: the designation term "Veteran"...
~All Commonwealth countries [including Canada] would never refer to their military servicemen/servicewomen who fell while in service, who sacrificed their lives and their futures, as "veterans".

~The only Commonwealth exceptions to that traditional military policy would be: anyone who'd previously served during and had survived an earlier conflict or term of service before sadly falling while on active service during a subsequent conflict would, of course, be referred to as a 'veteran'; and anyone who'd been honourably discharged from military duty on medical grounds would also be considered a military 'veteran'.

*A responding email statement I received from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) on 10 Oct 2023 regarding this issue states:-
"The Commission does not refer to those we commemorate as 'veterans'. We usually use the term 'war casualty ''that we commemorate''', or more pertinently, 'war dead'.
As you had mentioned, a 'veteran' usually applies to those surviving the war or conflict they took part in. As we commemorate those who died in the two World Wars, we do not refer to them as 'veterans'."

Also, A responding email statement I received from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) on 17 Oct 2023 states:-
"Thank you for your email inquiring if those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country are ever referred to as veterans.
For recognition and remembrance purposes, Veterans Affairs Canada defines a 'Veteran' as any former member of the Canadian military (Regular Forces or Reserves), who completed Basic Military Training while in service and who received an honourable discharge upon release.
With respect to those who have died in service, our department does not refer to them as 'Veterans'. This is simply because they sadly never had the opportunity to become 'Veterans' as they lost their lives before being released from the military. Instead, we commonly refer to these individuals as War Dead—if they died during the great conflicts of the 20th century—or, simply, the "Fallen."

7 November 2024

Re: the designation term "Veteran"...
~All Commonwealth countries [including Canada] would never refer to their military servicemen/servicewomen who fell while in service, who sacrificed their lives and their futures, as "veterans".

~The only Commonwealth exceptions to that traditional military policy would be: anyone who'd previously served during and had survived an earlier conflict or term of service before sadly falling while on active service during a subsequent conflict would, of course, be referred to as a 'veteran'; and anyone who'd been honourably discharged from military duty on medical grounds would also be considered a military 'veteran'.

*A responding email statement I received from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) on 10 Oct 2023 regarding this issue states:-
"The Commission does not refer to those we commemorate as 'veterans'. We usually use the term 'war casualty ''that we commemorate''', or more pertinently, 'war dead'.
As you had mentioned, a 'veteran' usually applies to those surviving the war or conflict they took part in. As we commemorate those who died in the two World Wars, we do not refer to them as 'veterans'."

Also, A responding email statement I received from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) on 17 Oct 2023 states:-
"Thank you for your email inquiring if those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country are ever referred to as veterans.
For recognition and remembrance purposes, Veterans Affairs Canada defines a 'Veteran' as any former member of the Canadian military (Regular Forces or Reserves), who completed Basic Military Training while in service and who received an honourable discharge upon release.
With respect to those who have died in service, our department does not refer to them as 'Veterans'. This is simply because they sadly never had the opportunity to become 'Veterans' as they lost their lives before being released from the military. Instead, we commonly refer to these individuals as War Dead—if they died during the great conflicts of the 20th century—or, simply, the "Fallen."