Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Graydon Foster is nominated for his work in commemorating the service of Canadian Veterans and for his support of Veterans’ well-being. For more than 12 years, he has been volunteering his time and his philanthropic fundraising expertise to preserve the memory of Veterans.
His efforts to preserve Veterans’ and military heritage is exemplified through the creation, the funding and the promotion of the Juno Beach Centre Legacy of Honour Veteran Video program. He has helped facilitate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the 100th anniversary of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, poster unveilings, book launches and many local initiatives celebrating resident Veterans.
On his own initiative, he helped facilitate the creation of the Private Ernest David Harrison Monument in Leuth, Netherlands. The monument is dedicated to Pte Ernest David Harrison’s memory and provides a formal marker for his final resting place.
His notable contributions to Veterans’ well-being include coordinating information sessions regarding the Canadian Defense Community Banking Program, hosting 39 Brigade members and their families to movie nights, mess dinners and other activities. He has taken particular interest in helping the few remaining D-Day Veterans in his community. He visits them on a regular basis, ensures they attend commemorative events and ceremonies and has even agreed to help with funeral arrangements.