Mr. Speaker, Richard Healy, a former member of Canada's armed forces, passed away this week at the age of 62.
Richard volunteered in my office to help raise funds for Canadian World War II veterans of the Battle of Ortona. These veterans wished to hold a Christmas memorial dinner with German war veterans 55 years after the battle known as the “Stalingrad of Italy”. Veterans Affairs refused to support this event.
With Richard's assistance and the many others who helped, over $200,000 was raised. The Christmas dinner was held in 1998 and a life-size bronze monument to the battle, called the Price of Peace, stands in Ortona, Italy, all paid for by individual citizen donors.
Richard Healy was a quiet and kind person with a commitment to justice for our veterans. A life is ultimately measured and valued by its good deeds. In that respect, Richard Healy's life was very rich. He will be missed by many here on Parliament Hill.