TORONTO -- Family members of soldiers who died while serving in Afghanistan have been told they will have to pay their own way to a special memorial in Ottawa next month.
CTV News reports that a letter from National Defence dated last month invites them to the National Day of Honour on May 9.
But the letter from the director of casualty support management says "your attendance would be at your own expense."
However, it appears a change of heart may be in the offing.
Defence Minister Rob Nicholson told CTV that he will soon announce "financial support for the families of the fallen travelling to Ottawa."
Some 158 soldiers died during the Afghan mission, along with one diplomat, one journalist and two civilian contractors. The last soldiers returned last month.
