Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise in the House today to recognize a constituent of mine, Mr. Harry Burke. He is a local artist who was inspired by the names that he found inscribed in stone at the Exeter cenotaph.
He was so deeply stirred that he began an intricate endeavour to paint portraits of each of the people who had so valiantly served their nation in its time of crisis.
His project originated with the idea that these individuals were more than just names cast in marble. They were people with families and friends and they should be remembered as such.
I have had the opportunity to view Mr. Burke's work. I was struck by the realistic manner in which the faces of our fallen countrymen were captured in each portrait. So accurate were the images that family members and veterans were moved to tears as they viewed the impressions of their departed companions.
I would like to relay my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Burke for his substantial investment of time, energy and emotion into this venture. His valuable contribution pays a fitting tribute to those Canadians captured forever on his canvas.