The future of history: A legacy gift from John and Donna Schwartzburg

Donna Schwartzburg paying her respects to the pilot of her uncle’s bomber, at the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek in the Netherlands.

John and Donna Schwartzburg are ordinary Canadians doing something pretty extraordinary. Not only do they make an annual donation to the Canadian War Museum, but in a particularly selfless bit of forward planning, they’re also remembering the Museum in their wills.

Retired civil servants, John and Donna’s interest in Canada’s military is rooted in their family history. John’s father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War while his mother was a civilian member of the Royal Canadian Navy. Donna’s uncle became a prisoner of war when his Lancaster was shot down over Holland in 1943.

Through their bequest, the Schwartzburgs are linking these past generations with those to come. For them, it’s vitally important that the tremendous sacrifices of earlier Canadians are preserved and communicated to the youth of today and tomorrow. The Schwartzburgs are confident their future investment will help the Museum’s vast collection of artifacts and stories become better known through research projects, exhibitions, new technologies and educational programs.

When asked what they would say to others considering a legacy gift to the Canadian War Museum, their response is hauntingly clear: “Lest we forget, lest we forget.”

Estate planning is one way to support the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum. Like John and Donna Schwartzburg, you could make a lasting impact on generations to come.