Victoria, British Columbia
Mrs. Klages has devoted the past 24 years to raising the public's awareness of the contributions and sacrifices of Canada's Veterans. As an advocate, she extols the virtues of Veterans and assists those in need. Mrs. Klages' outstanding commitment to Veterans extends to many fields of endeavour. Over the years, she has volunteered her time to dozens of committees, always selflessly devoting her efforts to the promotion, improvement and well-being of Veterans. As an associate member of The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), Mrs. Klages organized the inception of an Honour Wall in the RCL Branch, listing the names of the men and women who made the supreme sacrifice from the Langford, Colwood, Metchosin and the Highland areas. Mrs. Klages has been active at organizing prominent military anniversaries, such as D-Day and VE-Day, and was Secretary and Member of the Victoria Committee for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. She also chairs a committee for visiting disabled Veterans confined to their homes, hospitals or seniors' residences. She participates in the RCL Poppy Campaigns, serves on the Local Western Communities Remembrance Day Committee, and organizes interviews between Veterans and students. As a result of her efforts, she was successful in having Veterans and currently serving members of the military included as resources in the local school's history curriculum. Mrs. Klages is a powerful advocate for Veterans and in recognition of her extraordinary devotion to Veterans and her fellow citizens, has received several honours and awards from Veterans' organizations and the community.