The Canadian War Museum and Operation Veteran are marking a milestone this year.
The Museum has announced they've redeemed 11,000 free meal vouchers through Operation Veteran since 2009.
Senior Communications Officer at the Canadian War Museum, Avra Gibbs Lamey, tells CFRA the program was created by Dr. Paul Kavanagh.
"He saw a veteran in the cafeteria, unable to pay for his meal," Gibbs Lamey says. "He felt that it was important to raise money so that no veteran would ever have to go through that, after serving our country, to come to the War Museum and not be able to pay for something to eat."
Operation Veteran has become a Canada-wide endeavour, Gibbs Lamey says.
"We have schools all over Canada who are raising money, through various events. The money they raise comes back to us, so that any veteran who comes to the War Museum, and identifies themselves as a veteran, is provided with a meal voucher worth $11. Veterans have free entry into the War Museum, and this is one more way to show our respect."
In a statement, Dr. Kavanagh says, "Operation Veteran is such a beneficial program because of how it encourages dialogue between generations, and how it inspires students to contribute in a positive way while raising their awareness of their elders’ sacrifices. I am immensely proud and gratified to see this program’s enduring success and influence on the lives of Canadians young and old.”
Gibbs Lamey says Remembrance Day is the Museum's busiest day of the year.
"We probably get anywhere between two- and three-thousand people coming through the doors," she says. "It's a free day, so we get lots of school groups and families."
But, she says, it's a place to learn, every other day of the year.
"The War Museum is a place to come any day of the year, if people want to learn why we remember," she says. "It's really a chance to understand the history behind Remembrance Day."