Mr. Speaker, D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the largest invasion force ever assembled in history. Landing on the coast of Normandy, France alongside British and American forces were 14,000 young Canadian men.
Making way for the assault, the Royal Canadian Air Force dropped tons of explosives on German coastal defences and Canadian fighter pilots took to the sky to battle the German Luftwaffe. The Royal Canadian Navy provided 109 ships and 10,000 sailors. Guns from the Canadian destroyers pounded the shoreline to clear the way for the advance. On the ground Canadian soldiers fought their way along Juno Beach at the centre of the British front. Thousands were killed and wounded that day fighting against evil for the freedom that each of us enjoys today.
Lest we forget.