Mr. Speaker, the Canadian soldiers who served in Burma and elsewhere in Southeast Asia in World War II have had to accept the fact that most of these conflicts have been forgotten in the annals of our war effort.
While other battles made headlines, the fighting in Burma and Malaysia went almost unnoticed. This, however, does not take anything away from the heroism of the Canadians who served in those countries. Our soldiers were brave and courageous. They had to face not only the enemy but also scourges such as malaria, dysentery and many other tropical diseases.
It is with great pride that I note the exploits of these brave young Canadians which are now being commemorated in ceremonies across Asia. Their heroism is an inspiration, as is their commitment and faith in Canada. They served in the hope that when they return they would be granted the liberties that other Canadians enjoyed.
Fifty years later, we know that their hopes were not misplaced. Those young Canadians contributed not only to our freedom, but to our dignity as a nation.
In a country that prides itself on equality and tolerance, there can be no better loyalty than that-