Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay homage to World War II veteran Alvie Burden. Alvie was a resident of Armstrong, British Columbia, and was not only Armstrong's oldest veteran but also Canada's oldest Black veteran of the Second World War.
Born in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, in 1922, Alvie Burden joined the Canadian Forces at the age of 19 and was posted to the Saskatoon Light Infantry regiment. Alvie served more than 21 months in the Italian and Dutch campaigns and was the only Black member of his company. In Italy, Alvie Burden was nearly killed in action by shrapnel wounds to his head and wrists. Thankfully, Alvie made his recovery, lived on and helped younger generations understand the realities of war, until he passed on March 26 at the age of 104 years old.
Alvie Burden's service reminds us today of the sacrifices that members of the Canadian Armed Forces have made and continue to make on our behalf. Lest we forget.