Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the HMCS Kitchener, which was one of 123 corvettes, or escorts, built in Canada during the Second World War. Named after communities across the country, like my own, they were critical to maintaining supply lines during the Battle of the Atlantic.
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, the Kitchener was the sole Canadian corvette escorting landing craft to the beaches of Normandy. Some of those brave soldiers came from my community's Highland Light Infantry Regiment, which landed at Juno Beach as part of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade. As the Canadians pushed inland, the Kitchener returned to fight on the seas.
Let us remember the 14,000 Canadians who fought on the beaches that day to secure our freedom. On this, the 75th anniversary of D-Day, I encourage my colleagues and all Canadians to learn more about the corvettes named after their own communities.