OTTAWA, ON – Operation Veteran kicked off its fourth year at the Chateau Laurier Sunday morning.

It was started by Ottawa resident Paul Kavanagh after he helped a veteran at the Canadian War Museum who could not afford a coffee and bowl of soup. He reached out to schools for support.

Since 2009, the program has been offering complimentary meals to veterans at the Canadian War Museum.  

“We have served almost 4000 meals” Kavanagh told 1310News. “It’s expanding beyond our wildest dreams.”

Students across Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick helped kick off the programs fourth year and heard from veterans and military personnel.

“I find it an honour to be in the presence of veterans,” said Jessica from Laval. “It’s important to listen to their stories in person not the internet.”

In 2014, the Canadian War Museum will  be spending trunks of World War I artifacts to schools that help raise money for the program.