The UK government said that a permanent memorial dedicated to Captain Sir Tom Moore should be built in recognition to his contribution to the NHS.
Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock said that the centenarian war hero, who recently died with coronavirus in Bedford Hospital, had “touched the hearts of the nation and we should remember that”.
“He became to symbolise something and something that we all needed to see – that cheerful resilience in the face of difficulty and adversity and the fact that everybody do what they can,” he said.
He added that his courageous rallying of the country during the coronavirus pandemic symbolizes resilience in the face of adversity.
“When the NHS was under pressure during the first lockdown – he didn’t just sit at home, he asked the question ‘what can I do to help?’,” the secretary said.
“We should find a way to make sure we mark the memory of Captain Tom and thank him for the contribution he made to the NHS.”
“I will ensure that we mark his contribution properly and appropriately at the right moment,” Hancock assured.
“I think everybody would welcome that… he touched the hearts of the nation and we should remember that.”
Captain Sir Tom gained internet fame for raising more than £32 million ($43.68 million) for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his milestone birthday.
In July, the Queen knighted the war hero, personally praising him and gave him the honorary title of colonel on his 100th birthday.
Last week, he tested positive for Covid-19, as he cannot be vaccinated due to the medication he was receiving for pneumonia.
His daughters, Hannah Ingram-Moore and Lucy Teixeira, said in a statement that they “shared laughter and tears” with their father during the final few hours they were together.
They added that his final year of fundraising had been “nothing short of remarkable”.