Mr. Speaker, when dawn broke 71 years ago, the enemy's stark view from their fortifications over the beaches of Normandy was a silhouette of war painted across the horizon. The Allied invasion of Europe had begun.
Among the vast Allied fleet poised to attack was a young teenage seaman of the Royal Canadian Navy serving on the HMCS Prince Henry, a landing craft carrier. Amidst bursting enemy shells and clouds of smoke from the ship's guns, Marty Jones provided artillery cover for the landing crafts laden with soldiers of the Royal Regina Rifles and the Canadian Scottish Regiment heading to Juno Beach.
After the war, Marty worked for 29 years for CMHC in Edmonton, retiring in 1985. He distinguished himself further and became the recipient of the Alberta Centennial and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Marty, his wife Pauline, and family and friends are all celebrating life's blessings and Marty's 90th birthday this Saturday.
Happy birthday to Marty. Good health, and God bless.