Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in this House to recognize a friend and World War II hero, Robert Wilson Wight.
Mr. Wight saw action following D-Day in northern Europe, including Holland, Belgium and Germany. During the war, he served as a platoon commander, a commanding officer in the demolition platoon and as an officer commanding A-Company.
Bob left the Canadian army in 1953 as a major and wanted to be remembered as a “front-line infantry officer in WW II”.
Bob and his late wife, Gertrude, were married for 65 years and were proud of their family, who are visiting Ottawa today.
Bob passed away at the George Hees veterans residence at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in my riding of Don Valley West, and it is no coincidence that he died on June 6, 2011, the 67th anniversary of D-Day.
As we approach Remembrance Day next week, I ask all MPs to join with me in recognizing this great Canadian veteran.