Mr. Speaker, I am happy my friend from Yellowhead asked that question. He knows service well from his decades of service in uniform to our country, and we appreciate his service now in Parliament after giving a lifetime of service.
The member is right. In fact, several of us were just talking with him about how special and sacred the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood in Ottawa was and how few Canadians actually knew we have a national military cemetery in our nation's capital. Certainly, it is not as well known as the hallowed grounds at Arlington, which I have had the privilege to lay a wreath at, but Canadians should explore and know these places.
I met with passionate people, including retired General Beno of the Juno Beach Centre. It now has lost some private sector funding. This was to preserve the landing place where thousands of lives in the Normandy Operation were lost, starting at Juno. It is now looking for funding. I hope the new Minister of Veterans Affairs can work with the organization.
Here is another example of passionate Canadians who opened the visitor centre and museum in France on their own, really with no help. Now, there are little operating funds, but I hope the government comes forward with a plan to preserve it, like it did with Vimy, which we started and the they opened. It can be done this with Juno.
My friend is right, as McCrae said over a century ago:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
We are now losing so many World War II veterans. It is up to us to preserve that legacy. We can hold the torch high, not in combat but in recognizing their sacrifice, preserving their final resting places and educating future Canadians who enjoy the country they provided us.