| MR.
PARSONS: |
I rise today to recognize and congratulate Port aux
Basques native, Mr. John Ford, on being nominated to
receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from Memorial
University on May 29, 2008.
The award is presented to honour Mr. Ford for his
determination to survive and to commemorate the war in
the Pacific and its victims. Mr. Ford enlisted in the
Royal Air Force in 1940, and after basic training in
England was posted to Singapore. He was taken prisoner
by the Japanese in 1942 and placed in a prisoner of war
camp in Nagasaki. During his incarcerations, he and his
fellow prisoners suffered brutal treatment at the hands
of their captors. When the American forces dropped the
atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Mr. Ford witnessed and survived
the explosion. He was rescued and returned to
Newfoundland where he resumed his employment with the
Newfoundland Railway. He retired from the Railway in
1976.
Since that time, Mr. Ford has lobbied for the rights
of veterans and is a very active member of the Royal
Canadian Legion. He has provided valuable contributions
to the Legion activities, including the annual poppy
campaign and both the Caribou Legion Pavilion and Manor.
For twenty-five years, Mr. Ford has appeared at
Remembrance Day ceremonies where he speaks of the
horrors of war and lobbies for world peace.
The Royal Canadian Legion presented him with the
Meritorious Service Medal with Palm Leaf, the highest
award granted to members. In 2006, he was honoured with
a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his
contribution to the care, well-being and remembrance of
veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of this House to join
with me in extending congratulations to Mr. John Ford on
being chosen to receive an honorary doctor of laws from
Memorial University. |
