Glenn Miller received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for service to Canada’s veterans.
An area man is one of eight Albertans honoured for their service to Canada’s veterans.
Glenn Miller last week received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation along with Michael Duffy, John Eckstadt, Alexander Gault, Rev. Larry Nicolay, Kenneth Nixon, Barry Pearson and Tina-Louise Tung.
“Every day, dedicated volunteers enrich the lives of Canada’s veterans and their families,” Veterans Affairs Minister and Associate Minister of National Defence Ginette Petitpas Taylor said in a news release. “Presenting them with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation is one of the ways we acknowledge the significant contributions of these individuals, who have gone above and beyond to be there for Veterans and their families. You make us all very proud.”
The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation is presented to individuals who often volunteer countless hours and go the extra mile to ensure Veterans are recognized and supported.
In 2001, the Warrant of the Governor General created the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation with the approval of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
To date, more than 1,300 individuals from coast to coast to coast have received this commendation.
The commendation consists of a certificate, a lapel pin for civilian wear and a bar to wear with decorations.
The design features a gold maple leaf resting on a red poppy — a flower long associated with the sacrifices of war — with the Royal Crown on the top of the pin.
Miller has actively helped veterans and commemorating their sacrifices for many years.
A veteran himself, Miller has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, General Stewart Branch for 19 years, with over a decade as branch service officer.
Miller volunteers with and is a founding member of the Lethbridge Military Museum and regularly lectures on Canada’s military history through the Memory Project.
Miller serves as the president of Lethbridge United Services Institute, president of Alberta branch of the Last Post Fund and is an individual member of the Organization of Military Museums of Canada.
As branch service officer, Miller assisted veterans with their applications for pensions and benefits, transported them to medical appointments and visited them.
Miller also helped members and families replace lost medals and apply for memorial ribbons, educated families on Canada’s Books of Remembrance and helped obtain copies of the pages.
Miller participates in the honour guard at funerals as part of Gabriel Angels, offering comfort and support to families, and is involved in the annual Poppy Campaign.
Miller organized the planting of 300 poppies by students for the 70th anniversary of D-Day and was the driving force behind the refurbishment of the Field of Honour and the Immortal Flame in Mountain View Cemetery in Lethbridge.
Glenn works closely with the Indigenous community and worked with elders to develop a bilingual Blackfoot and English poster of “In Flanders Fields” which was unveiled on Indigenous Veterans’ Day in 2021.
In addition, Miller played a key role in marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in southern Alberta.
He worked to create a Vimy Ridge display for the city of Lethbridge, assisted in the planning and execution of a commemorative ceremony for the community of Waterton Parks, arranged participation by the Canadian Armed Forces, the United Kingdom, the RCMP and members of the Indigenous community.
