Mr. Speaker, today marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, when thousands of Canadians reclaimed Juno Beach in what marked the beginning of the end for the Nazis in World War II. We took the beach in two hours, and Canadians advanced the furthest of any allied unit. Hundreds of Canadian men died on Juno Beach and thousands of Canadians sacrificed their lives in the war in the name of freedom, equality and justice.
This past weekend, I marched in an annual D-Day commemoration and participated in a service at the cemetery of St. John's Norway hosted by our local Beaches—East York Legions.
Afterwards, I stopped by the home of Guy Eisnor. He is one of a smaller number of surviving World War II and D-Day veterans. We had a beer and played cribbage together, a game he told me he learned to play in the foxhole. We talked about his service, his life and his belief that Canada is the best country in the world. It is, and it is because of men and women like him.
We owe Mr. Eisnor and all those who served in World War II a debt of gratitude.
Lest we forget.