Doug Jung

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and my dear friends.

Seven years ago in Victoria, I had the honour of welcoming those who attended the reunion of the Chinese-Canadian veterans who served Canada. Tonight in Vancouver, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our veterans' reunion.

I take pride in the knowledge that we belong to an exclusive and special club. We paid the "no-admission" fee to join this club and in fact for most of us, we even had to fight to be allowed into the armed forces. From a military point of view, there were not enough of us to form our own battalion.

Our contribution to the social and economic progress of our Chinese community was a far greater victory than any battle. The success of us veterans was entirely out of proportion to our actual numbers because after the war, we were able to demand and receive for the first time equality of treatment as Canadian citizens.

Unfortunately, after some forty years, there are many among us, particularly the younger generation and new arrivals in Canada, who are not aware that if it had not been for our efforts in demanding recognition of our status as Canadian citizens the Chinese community would not be as dynamic, as affluent and as welcomed as it is today.

They take for granted that we have always had the right to practise any of the professions, to receive recognition for our distinction in the arts, sports, business and academic achievement. These people know nothing about the very restrictions as to where we could live and know even less that we were denied the vote and to be recognized as a political voice. And they cannot and do not understand the discrimination which the Chinese community once suffered. For those members of the younger generation, it is almost inconceivable that these social, electoral and economic values existed.

Why should it be this way? Those of us who served during the Second World War were, on the whole, less educated, certainly less affluent or sophisticated than the present generation because we never had the opportunity or privilege that Canadians now have. And yet we took up arms and made it possible for others to follow in our footsteps.

Is it too late for us to teach our children or educate our fellow citizens as to the value of what we did? I can tell you, we veterans, individually or as a group, have nothing to be ashamed of. We can hold our heads high because what we did accomplish could never been accomplished or bought with any amount of money.

We, who even denied the most fundamental rights of citizenship, acted as honourable citizens to serve our country in its hour of need. And no one can take that honour away from us.

We are now in the September of our years. Our time and resources are limited and common to all veterans in every land. Some of us have paid a terrible emotional, physical and mental price for what we did. But the price we paid was and remains a symbol of our loyalty and dedication to our country and we can be proud of our accomplishment.

I say this to you. We did something for the Chinese community no other group could ever have done. We should be proud and take satisfaction in the knowledge that without our contribution to Canada as members of the armed forces during the Second World War, none of the rights that exist in the Chinese community today would be possible.

And to your loved ones and to members of your families, I say this. Take pride in our accomplishments. Give to us the privilege to indulge a little bit in our comradeship and also give to us now, your support and understanding because what we did, we did for you.

Be proud of us, as we are with you. Be happy with us and take some time to spread the word and record of us among your friends so that someone will once more be inspired to take up the challenge to be a voice for our community in elected assembly. Do not, I beg of you, let our efforts go to waste simply because no one cares. Our efforts, instead of being recorded as a mere footnote in the pages of Canadian history should, at least, be a blazing and inspiring chapter of the Chinese people in the history of Canada.