National Military Cemetery
280 Beechwood Ave. K1L 8A6 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Take the first step towards funeral pre-planning. The hardest conversations are the ones worth having. We can help to start with our free Ebook on funeral planning. Download it today at: https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/funeral-planning-ebook-o

It's not just what your legacy will be. It's where. Preplanning your cemetery arrangements is one of the most thoughtful and considerate gifts you can give to your loved ones, because it relieves the burden of making difficult and expensive decisions at the time of grieving, and lets you set your own legacy.... It really means: Sparing your family from making hard decisions at an emotionally stressful time; Lightening additional grief at the time of loss; Ensuring your decisions are informed and thoughtful; Choosing the specific items you want at today’s prices. Download the Beechwood Cemetery Planning E-Book and learn the simple four-step planning process today! https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/four-easy-steps

"This is a very much a passion project," Mullens said. "We've made connections with and partnerships with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Veterans Affairs Canada, Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. And these sources have been really incredible for being able to bring some of that rich media pictures and such.

The People of Beechwood: WILLIAM BROWN BRADLEY Section 25, Lot 52N The American Revolution and two wars shaped the life of William Brown Bradley who grew up in a family fiercely loyal to the Crown and fought in His Majesty’s Forces to defend the British colonies. On his death in Bytown, Bradley was described as not only a brave officer but a deserving settler of Carleton County....Continue reading

Meaning in the monument: The Celtic Cross - The circle around the crosspiece symbolizes eternity. It's origin can be traced to the Celtic cultures of the British Isles. There is a legend of how St. Patrick when preaching to some soon to be converted heathens was shown a sacred standing stone that was marked with a circle that was symbolic of the moon goddess. ... Patrick made the mark of a Latin cross through the circle and blessed the stone making the first Celtic Cross.

Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion, of the Sons of Scotland, pipes Flowers of the Forest as a tribute for Remembrance Day. Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion can be found www.sospb.com and www.championbagpipes.com. https://youtu.be/3MxDbk3irUI... Video developed by: Benjamin D Photography

Meaning in the monument: Élisabeth Bruyère She was born Élisabeth Bruguier in L'Assomption in Lower Canada in 1818. Daughter of Jean Baptiste Charles Bruguier (1763-1824) and Sophie Mercier. The Bruguier name was changed in 1824 when the family moved after the death of her father. In 1839, she joined the Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal, also known as the Grey Nuns. In 1845, she was asked to set up a community of the Sisters of Charity at Bytown. With th...ree other Grey Nuns, she established Roman Catholic schools, hospitals and orphanages there.[1] In 1854, the community in Bytown became independent of Montreal. Although the Sisters of Charity cared for people of every religious denomination during the typhus outbreak in 1847, a Protestant General Hospital, later the Ottawa Civic Hospital, was opened in 1850. The Sisters of Charity were also responsible from 1870 to 2001 of the school which became today the Collège Saint-Joseph de Hull in Gatineau, the city's girl school and one of two private secondary institutions. The community opened other houses in Ontario, Quebec and New York state. The hospital opened in Bytown later became the Ottawa General Hospital. The Sisters of Charity also established facilities for the aged, opening the St. Charles Old Age Hospice, later the Residence Saint-Louis. She died in Ottawa on April 5, 1876.

The people of Beechwood: CHARLES WILLIAM MITCHELL Section 35, Lot 13 S (J & Mil) Charles William Mitchell was born in Gibraltar on October 8, 1843, son of William Mitchell (a sergeant with the 79th Highlanders) and Agnes Reid. ... The family settled in London, Canada West in 1849, where Charles entered the printing trade. He moved to Michigan about 1860 and at the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted with the 2nd Michigan Infantry and took part in many of the early battles of the war. He was wounded in 1862 and took his discharge, but in a bizarre twist, returned to his trade in the Confederacy. Restless and seeking adventure, Mitchell left the South and took passage on a New England whaler in December 1863 and travelled throughout the southern hemisphere. He returned to England about a year later and to Canada in 1865. Four years later, he established the Ottawa Free Press newspaper and was sole proprietor until 1903 when it was purchased by the owners of the Ottawa Journal. One can only imagine the stories he told his sons about the Civil War. His eldest, Charles junior, served with the United States Army in the 1890s and volunteered with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in July 1916. He survived the war and is buried in the family plot. Son Edgar also served with the CEF, and Mitchell’s youngest son, Victor, served with the 27th Division, US Army in the First World War, and was killed in action in France in September 1918. And the tradition of service in the family continued grandson Beverley Mitchell (d. 1973) served as a Captain with the Governor General’s Foot Guards. In spite of his adventurous youth, Mitchell shunned publicity of any kind although he was reputed to be one of the largest property owners in the city at the time of his death on January 10, 1927. Photo: 2nd Michigan Infantry at Fort Wayne in Michigan

Interesting story about John Currier, who was also one of the founders of the Beechwood Cemetery Company; he was the first president of the company, a position he held until his death. History sleuth Andrew King with two Manotick stories: A haunting and a long-forgotten distillery And King is a man who loves Manotick, the community in south Ottawa he calls home, and he's discovered that it is hauntingly beautiful.... King describes the village as a quaint little town with white picket fences and historic homes and buildings lining picturesque streets. What I didn’t know is that there is a dark secret lying within its most recognized jewela ghost in the mill. King is referring to Watson’s Mill. A beautifully restored nod to Manotick’s past on the west bank of the Rideau River. https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/history-sleuth-andrew-king-with-t

Preplanning your cemetery arrangements is one of the most thoughtful and considerate gifts you can give to your loved ones, because it relieves the burden of making difficult and expensive decisions at the time of grieving, and lets you set your own legacy. It really means: - Sparing your family from making hard decisions at an emotionally stressful time; - Lightening additional grief at the time of loss;... - Ensuring your decisions are informed and thoughtful; - Choosing the specific items you want at today’s prices. Download our eBook today at https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/four-easy-steps

Beechwood National Memorial Centre Attached to its 19th-century stone office building is Beechwood’s state-of-the-art reception centre that provides families with classic comfort. With its sunlit wall-to-wall windows, the inviting warmth of fireplaces, and bright and gleaming hardwood floors, the centre provides reception rooms, family meeting rooms and catering facilities.

4 easy steps! Preplanning your cemetery arrangements can be easy as 4 simple steps. Download the Beechwood Cemetery Planning e-Book and learn the simple four-step planning process today! https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/four-easy-steps

People of Beechwood: RADM HORATIO NELSON LAY Section 24, Lot TG 26, Grave A (Mil) Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson Lay was born in Skagway, Alaska on January 23, 1903. In 1918 at age fifteen, applied for entry to the Royal Canadian Navy's newly-established college at Esquimalt, B.C. His examinations for entry were so difficult that he believed he failed, but instead placed first.... At the college, Lay received comprehensive classroom instruction and ship-board training on a schooner. He successfully completed his course in 1921 and was commissioned as a midshipman and sent to Scotland to join the crew of the Royal Navy's battleship Resolution. During his service, Lay developed skills in seamanship, gunnery and other aspects of naval warfare, and by 1939 his rank was Lieutenant-Commander. Soon after Canada's declaration of war he was appointed to command HMCS Restigouche, one of six destroyers that made up Royal Canadian Navy's fleet. In March of 1940 the Restigouche escorted its first of many convoys to Britain, and in June of that same year, when France surrendered, the Restigouche brought soldiers and 118 seamen from torpedoed ships back to Britain. In May, 1941, after participating in the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck, Lay's ship returned to Canada where he was assigned shore duties. He became the RCN's Director of Operations, studied naval aviation, and in 1943 he became the commander of an aircraft carrier, the HMS Nabob, a US Navy ship launched in 1943 and loaned to the Royal Navy. In June, 1944, Nabob took part in mine-laying operations along the Norwegian coast, its aircraft also attacking the German battleship Tirpitz. Soon after, the Nabob was torpedoed, killing 21 of the crew and partially flooding the hold. The ship didn’t sink, but was badly damaged and forced to limp over 1,800 km back to port in Scotland amidst bad weather and U-boat attacks. After WWII, Lay was appointed to senior RCN positions, including Director of Plans for the Naval Service and involvement in NATO activities. He was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned to Naval HQ as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff and as Chief of the Naval Staff in 1954, serving until his retirement in 1958. In retirement, Lay became a leader in Ottawa's fundraising appeals for charities, participated in home and school association activities and was a keen golfer and curler. His first names foretold the mariner's part of his life and his outstanding seamanship during the Battle of the Atlantic, his achievements recognized by many decorations conferred on him by Canada and other countries. Lay died on May 8, 1988.

Meaning in the monument: The wreath The symbolism of wreaths has been used at funerals since at least the time of Ancient Greece, to represent a circle of eternal life. Evergreen wreaths were laid at the burial place of early Christian virgin martyrs in Europe, the evergreen representing the victory of the eternal spirit over death. By the Victorian era, the symbolism of flowers had grown to become an elaborate language, and the symbolism of funeral wreaths was no exception. ...Flowers represented life and resurrection. Specific flowers were used in funeral wreaths to represent particular sentiments. Cypress and willow were used for crafting wreath frames, and were associated with mourning by the Victorians. Wreaths are commonly laid at the tombs of soldiers and at memorial cenotaphs during Remembrance Day ceremonies. Wreaths may also be laid in memory of persons lost at sea, either from an accident or due to navy action. In a memorial service at sea, the wreath is lowered to the water and set adrift.

The Governor General’s Foot Guards were represented today at the National War Memorial, the National Military Cemetery and held a private ceremony at Beechwood Cemetery. We will remember them. Up the Guards!

New Project - AMICITIA FRANCE-CANADA AMICITIA FRANCE-CANADA is the Latin expression for fraternal friendship FranceCanada and is also the name chosen for the monument being planned in Ottawa to recognize the more than four centuries of common history and heritage and over 90 years of official diplomatic relations between France and Canada. Located in historic Beechwood Cemetery the national cemetery of Canada this monument will be a living testament to the countless F...rench communities and Canadians from sea to sea to sea who have and continue to support, contribute and enrich the lives of so many others all around the world during times of war, conflict and peace. Find out more at: https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/france-canada Group picture from 2019 Remembrance Day Event.

Great thoughts from CPO2 Tribodeau about Remembrance Day and the moment of silence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI2D8yWEerk

There are many beautiful park-like areas and gardens throughout Beechwood that are perfect for you and your family. There are a number of sections designated for use by the diverse cultural, ethnic and faith groups in Canada. In addition, Beechwood is the home of National Military Cemetery, the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery and the Ottawa Police Service Memorial Cemetery. Whether cremation or traditional casket burial is selected, Beechwood offers many burial options, as well as a wide selection of monuments and other memorialization choices.

Up the Guards!!! Lest we forget !

In recognition of the partnership with Beechwood Cemetery, the Canadian Tulip Festival - Festival canadien des tulipes is offering something special to all our social media followers. As special friends of Beechwood, the Festival would like to offer $5 off every bag of Rembrandt Blend tulip bulbs, with Coupon Code; BEECHWOOD PLUS every purchase enters you for a chance to WIN a trip for 2 to Amsterdam from @KLM! ... Help support a 69-year-old world-renowned festival, and keep the tulip tradition alive and free to all. You can buy Rembrandt Blend bulbs for planting this fall at www.buybulbs.ca.

Are you looking for a unique way to honour your loved ones? Do you want to honour their military services? The Beechwood Book of Remembrance records a person’s name and lifespan. Housed in a large glass display case in Beechwood’s National Memorial Centre, a page in the book is turned each day to the current date. This allows family and friends to view the deceased’s name on their anniversary date. Find out more at http://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/product/71

People of Beechwood: FREDERICK HARRIS D. VIETH Section A, Range 17, Grave 19 - (CS, Lit & Mil) Born in 1840 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Vieth was a soldier and an author. In 1855, while visiting the British Isles, he was commissioned to the 63rd Regiment and he served throughout the later stages of the Crimean War.... After the war, he remained with the regiment for several years, when he was stationed in the Maritime Provinces. After he left the army, he served as captain of the 11th Halifax Regiment of the Nova Scotia militia. In his later years, he was a clerk in the Department of Railways and Canals in Ottawa. He was also the author of Recollections of the Crimean Campaign and the Expedition to Kinburn in 1855, Including also Sporting and Dramatic Incidents in Connection with Garrison Life in the Canadian Lower Provinces (1907). Vieth died in Ottawa on May 30, 1909.

Meaning in the monument: Open Books Open books usually represent scholastic knowledge (someone who was a devoted intellectual) or scripture (someone who was a faith leader in the community). It can also represents this person’s openness to knowledge or the word of God. This symbol is also connected with good deeds the deceased may have done being recorded in the mythical Book of Life.

Barrack Hill Cemetery at Beechwood - The final resting place of many early Bytown pioneers Starting in 1826, the construction of the Rideau Canal brought the Corps of Royal Engineers of the British Army and all kinds of workers to the area. The digging of over 200 kilometers of waterway brought jobs and soon settlers to the south side of the Ottawa River to live and work. This boosted the economy and effectively made Bytown a ‘boom town.’ This new town was primarily populate...d by English, French, Irish, and Scottish immigrants. With the sudden influx of people to the area, the crowding of the poorer areas, and the lack of hygiene, outbreaks of malaria, diphtheria, and other diseases ravaged the population. These diseases caused an incredible spike in deaths that prompted Lieutenant-Colonel John By, Royal Engineer overseeing the construction of the Rideau Canal, to commission Barrack Hill Cemetery. Find out more at: http://www.beechwoodottawa.ca//barrack-hill-cemetery-beech

It's not just what your legacy will be. It's where. Download the Beechwood Cemetery Planning E-Book and learn the simple four-step planning process today! https://landing.beechwoodottawa.ca/four-easy-steps

NEW - Beechwood Cemetery Wreath Program - NEW Memorial Wreaths are a meaningful way to pay tribute to your loved one. Our service includes a stand and placement on the grave.... Beechwood is here for you. For more information, please visit: http://www.beechwoodottawa.ca//cemetery-commemorat/wreaths

People of Beechwood: LCOL ADAM TOZELAND SHILLINGTON Section 41, Lot 22 E Ctr (Med & Mil) Born in Lanark, Ontario on August 12, 1870, Shillington went to McGill University, where he received degrees in medicine and surgery in 1894.... He was appointed to the medical board of St. Luke’s General Hospital in 1901. He went on to be the consulting physician at the Ottawa Maternity Hospital, a member of the medical society and chairman of the Committee on Medical Education. He was also president of the BrockvilleOttawa Electric Railway and of the Rideau CanalSand Company. He joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps as a lieutenant in 1901 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1911. Shillington died on May 22, 1946.

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