Remembrance Day- Veterans, challenges and needs

Ross Craddock was born in Kitchener Ontario on March 23, 1943.  Prior to graduating from high school in 1962, he was an active member in the Army cadets and militia.   Ross joined the military under the Officer Candidate Programme in 1962, receiving his commission in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in 1962.  In 1964, he completed his pilot training receiving the Army Wings. Ross served with distinction for 26 years in the Canadian Forces in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.   Upon retirement, this dedication to the Canadian Forces saw him donate time and finances to the military activity of serving members at bases close to where he lived. Since joining the Legion over 25 years ago he has focused on the issue of Veterans and their ability to obtain the disability benefits they were entitled to. Since joining Branch 15 as Services and Veterans Officer his tireless efforts have successfully assisted numerous Veterans by getting homeless veterans off the street, obtaining essential benefits for WW2 and Korean Veterans.   Ross has assisted veterans with health issues due to frailty, as well as spouses at the loss of their husband and all the issues arising from that. He has also taken an active part in the community organizations to ensure the public at large is aware of the issue that veteran's and their families as well as seniors encounter when it comes to housing, financial support and dealing with health services.  He has also taken on the responsibility as Branch President to help keep the Branch functioning and to ensure the support it provides to the Veterans and their families is there in future. He has also volunteered to be a speaker for the Memory Project to more broadly inform and promote what it means to have served and be a Veteran.   Ross is married to his wife of 58 years Diane and has two children and three grandchildren residing in Abbotsford.