Gary Schellenberger, Perth-Wellington Conservative MPGary Schellenberger, Perth-Wellington Conservative MP
Midwestern

Local MP Brings Veteran's Concern To Ottawa

The MP for Perth-Wellington has brought the issue surrounding a 90-year old Stratford veteran and his son and a liberation ceremony in the Netherlands to Ottawa.

Art Boon was part of the Allied forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in 1944 and has been invited to the ceremony surrounding the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.  His son Rick Boon requested for a two week unpaid leave of absence to go with his father, but the history teacher was denied the leave by the Avon Maitland District School Board.

In a release today, MP Gary Schellenberger called it a 'travesty' that Boon would not be granted the leave.

Schellenberger says it's about respect for Veterans.

Petitions are also being presented to the school board voicing support for the Boon family.

 

Below is a copy of Mr. Schellenberger's statement:

Mr. Speaker,

I rise to pay tribute to my constituent Veteran Art Boon, who stormed the beaches of Normandy with Allied forces on D-Day in 1944, and went on to help liberate the Netherlands from Nazi occupation.

Art has been officially invited by the Government of the Netherlands to attend commemorative ceremonies in Europe to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation.

Art wants to accept this honour and have his son, Rick, a teacher, with him at his side, as he receives a hero’s welcome in the Netherlands, but the Avon Maitland District School Board is refusing to allow Rick Boon unpaid leave to attend.

This is a travesty.

Our Government strongly condemns this decision and calls on the Avon Maitland District

School Board to allow Rick Boon to travel with his father to be honoured.

This is about respect for Veterans and their families and our Conservative Government stands firmly behind the Boon family.

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