Daniel Joseph "Danny" MacDonald was born on July 26, 1918 in Bothwell. He farmed in the community until 1940 when he enlisted in the P.E.I. Highlanders. In June 1943, Danny transferred to the legendary Cape Breton Highlanders. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was first wounded on the Gothic Line in Italy. Sgt. MacDonald returned to his unit after only a few weeks, only to be severely wounded on December 21, 1944 when a shell exploded 20 feet in front of him. He was transported to England. The injury resulted in the amputation of his left arm and leg. Danny returned to P.E.I. and was a successful farmer, marrying and having a family of seven children.

In 1962 he was first elected to the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly and served as the province's Minister of Agriculture & Forestry from 1966 to 1972. Danny was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Cardigan and served as Canadian Minister of Veterans Affairs from 1972-1979 and from March 1980, until his death in office, on September 30, 1980 in Charlottetown. His remains were interred at St. Columba Cemetery in Fairfield. The Hon. Daniel MacDonald is only one of two Prince Edward Islanders to be accorded the honours of a Federal State Funeral. The eulogy was delivered by his personal friend, the Rt. Hon. Pierre E. Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. The headquarters for the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs, situated in Charlottetown is named in Mr. MacDonald's honour.

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Waldron H. Leard