Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to speak to Motion No. 190 so ably presented by our colleague from Tobique--Mactaquac.
I know that numerous times in the House my colleagues have heard the expression that if one wants to know the history of Canadian military service, especially during the wars of the last century, then one only has to visit the many Commonwealth war cemeteries scattered across northwest Europe, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong and in countless other nations around the world.
More than 116,000 of our finest citizens gave their lives in war and their final resting places are located in over 70 countries. Their gravesites are marked by headstones and monuments and kept with loving care by the Government of Canada through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Such a history brings to mind a wonderful quote from King George V, who was visiting Flanders in 1922. He said at that time:
We can truly say that the whole circuit of the earth is girdled with the graves of our dead...and, in the course of my pilgrimage, I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth...than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war.
That is what our debate is about today: silent witnesses.
I am very attracted to the notion that monuments can act as silent and ever vigilant witnesses to the sacrifice of others. If a visiting family arrived on one of our coasts and travelled by car from one end to the other of this wonderful nation, and if in doing so they meandered through small towns and villages, there would be one thing they would see that would tell them they were in the same country. They would see countless memorials, monuments and cenotaphs, all telling the same story, the story of how brave men and women served their country when their country called.
We Canadians are so used to seeing them as we go about our busy lives that we scarcely pay them much heed, except perhaps on special occasions. Yet they are probably the most important historical symbols we have. We only have to look up each time we pass a statue, a cenotaph or a monument and we are reminded of the astonishing contribution made by our servicemen and servicewomen.
I would like at this moment to also acknowledge the special role members of the Royal Canadian Legion play in maintaining our remembrance of the dedication and sacrifice of those who served with distinction in defence of our country and our freedoms.
Unfortunately, the ravages of time and mother nature have taken their inevitable toll. Although the large monuments that come under the direct responsibility of governments remain in good shape, many others have not fared as well. I can tell members that this has been a matter of some study and consideration by the minister and within Veterans Affairs Canada for some time, as it has been for my hon. colleagues on both sides of the aisle, who have encouraged us to consider possible remedies.
Today we say to the sponsoring member and to all members who support the motion that the government agrees with them and with the communities that want help in restoring their monuments. We agree that Canadians from coast to coast should have visible reminders of a century of sacrifice. We agree that our young people should have places where they can offer their respects and thank the men and women who bought them the freedom to do so.
Those places exist now, in communities large and small. It is up to us to support local groups and communities to ensure that they continue to be there well into the future. The government agrees that we must help bring back to life some of the wonderful memorials that pay tribute to our war dead here in Canada, so that monuments large and small, in cities and towns large and small, will continue to speak for generations that are no longer able to speak for themselves.
That is what monuments do. They bear silent witness. They speak to our common history and humanity. They speak to our common heart. History, humanity and heart, all so very worthy of preserving.