Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour Gordon Quan, the last of the World War II Chinese veterans in Vancouver, whose life stands as a powerful testament to service, sacrifice and patriotism.
At a time when the Chinese were denied full citizenship in Canada, young Gordon volunteered for Force 136, Britain's legendary commandos fighting behind Japanese lines. Denied, he persisted until Canada, running out of recruits, decided to accept Asian immigrants.
Gordon served with distinction and, as a veteran, continued to volunteer. He was a fixture at Remembrance Day ceremonies, selling poppies until his death last month at age 99.
As we remember our veterans, let us honour the many immigrants who, though marginalized, risked their lives to serve Canada with honour and loyalty.
Lest we forget.