The "Last Post" echoed across the National War Memorial in Ottawa today during Remembrance Day ceremonies -- the first without a First World War veteran.
There are only five Canadian vets of the Great War still alive. Their average age is 103.
And as time passes it falls on us who come after, to remember the struggles of our forebearers to ensure our safety and freedom.
Wulfran Moondancer
Stupid Sidekick of the Lambent Dorf
Petitioner to Club Bok Bok
Founding Member of the Barbarian Nation Movement
I read that the U.S. quit keeping track of WWI vets specifically around 1990, but they estimate that there are around one or two dozen American WWI vets still alive.
CNN.com wrote:The Census Bureau stopped asking for data about those veterans years ago. Using a report of 65,000 alive in 1990 as a baseline, the VA estimates that no more than 50 remain, perhaps as few as 30.
CNN.com wrote:The Census Bureau stopped asking for data about those veterans years ago. Using a report of 65,000 alive in 1990 as a baseline, the VA estimates that no more than 50 remain, perhaps as few as 30.
15 years = 64,950 out of 65,000 dead. Less than .001% of the surviving WW1 vets in 1990 vets are left alive. If that doesn't show the grim hand of the reaper at a set age range I don't know what does. At 85+
With the advances in medical care, I'm curious if our generation's range will move from 85-100 to 100-115 by the time we're hitting that death zone with the average age of death moving up to around 80 years. (barring a pandemic)
The US dosen't have too much time to think of our old vets because we're too busy making new ones. Besides, the current administration's way of thanking vets is by cutting thier benefits, so I'm sure most would rather not have the attention at all.
