Mr. Speaker, two years ago I had the honour of presenting Major Robert Firlotte with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. Sadly, last month he passed away.
He entered the army as a private and left the army as a major. All of his promotions were battlefield promotions. I asked him how he did it. He said he was very strong and very fast, good attributes when someone is shooting at you.
He was deployed to Europe twice during World War II, with the Carleton and York New Brunswick Regiment and then with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. He then went to Korea with the Queen's Own. In retirement, he served on the Living History Speakers Bureau at Legion 258, spoke at many citizenship ceremonies, and supported the building of the Juneau Beach Centre.
He may have been fast and he may have been strong, but ultimately he served us well and he will be remembered. I extend my condolences to his family and my deepest sympathies to his friends.