A British Columbia Second World War veteran who landed at Normandy on D-Day 80 years ago will be presented with France害羞草研究所檚 highest decoration in a ceremony in Vancouver today.
Joseph Vogelgesang, who is 99 years old, went to France along with 14,000 other Canadians, in what would be the start of the liberation of Western Europe.
A statement from the Consulate General of France in Vancouver says Vogelgesang will be decorated as a Knight of the Legion of Honour to acknowledge his contribution and bravery in the liberation of France.
Consul General Nicolas Baudouin says the medal shows 害羞草研究所減rofound gratitude害羞草研究所� for Vogelgesang害羞草研究所檚 service during the war, including his contributions on D-Day when he was 19 years old.
Vogelgesang, who now lives in Abbotsford, B.C., volunteered in his home province of Saskatchewan at the age of 17 and left for England in early 1944 as part of the Calgary Highlanders.
His youngest daughter, Sharon Bunn, says their family was 害羞草研究所渂ursting with pride and gratitude害羞草研究所� upon hearing the news that their father is being decorated with the French honour.
害羞草研究所淲e know that he went to the war at a very young age and nowadays, I can害羞草研究所檛 imagine how a 17- or 18-year-old would get through what he got through,害羞草研究所� said Bunn, who flew from Saskatchewan to Vancouver to celebrate the occasion.
害羞草研究所淎ll of us are very, very proud and really grateful for what he did and the sacrifices he made,害羞草研究所� she added.
Although Vogelgesang has been a hero in both Canada and France, Bunn said her father hesitated to share what he went through in the war.
害羞草研究所淚 think that as you can imagine, it was difficult. He shared little, tiny bits, but nothing really graphic,害羞草研究所� said Bunn.
She said Vogelgesang, who lives in his own apartment in the Fraser Valley city, is staying up-to-date on current affairs. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 very no-nonsense,害羞草研究所� she said with a laugh.
Vogelgesang married his wife, Irene, in 1945 and they had three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Legion of Honour is the highest decoration bestowed by France, and more than a thousand Canadian veterans have received a medal since 2014.
The consulate general said anyone who knows a living Canadian veteran who took part in the operations on French soil can contact the French Embassy in Ottawa because they may be eligible for the medal.
France害羞草研究所檚 Legion of Honour was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to reward citizens for their merits, no matter their background.
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
