Veteran remembers the fight for freedom

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There are many more trees on Juno Beach now than there were 60 years ago, observed Native veteran Philip Favel. It's the first time he's seen the beaches of Normandy since World War II, a day in early June. D-Day.

"There were hardly any trees or shrubs back then," he recalled.

Favel, a member of Sweetgrass First Nation (Strike Him On The Back), travelled to Normandy June 6 for the 60th anniversary of a battle that galvanized a win for the allied forces against the Germans who had a stronghold there. George Horse, a vet from Thunderchild First Nation, also went to France for the commemoration. Favel and Horse were among a handful of Canadian First Nations veterans who attended the ceremonies.

"It was very nice to be there. It was nice to a lot of people," Favel said.

In 1941, at the age of 19, Favel enlisted in the armed forces (then called Selective Services). In 1943 he was sent overseas for training. Just before he was sent off to Juno Beach, he trained in England. He was posted as a supply truck driver, although he had very little mechanical training prior to joining the army. "My point was to go to Bayou and to go back to the beach. That was my orders, to deliver ammunition and gas," he said. Favel can't remember if he ate or slept that day on Juno Beach. He's discovered that many veterans don't really remember much about the war. He said there were many things he wished he could remember.

He returned home to North Battleford July 29, 1945 to his wife Dora and their first child Bernadette. It was the first time he had ever seen his daughter.

"There was a respect among soldiers back then and now 60 years later," he said."We don't know each other, but we respected each other. That's the way it should be."

While at the ceremony, Favel met with Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson. He told her that if it weren't for soldiers who were willing to fight for freedom, Canada would not be the nation it is today. Favel said Clarkson just nodded and smiled.

Favel traveled to Normandy with his grandson, Shaun, who felt privileged to attend.

"They were telling me stories, some which I knew already," he said. Shaun was nervous about the trip because he realized he was taking part in history. "You could feel the emotion from everybody," said the 37-year-old man. "It was like going back in time."

Favel feels some people, even in the First Nations population, don't have respect for him or First Nations veterans, something that he is puzzled about. He and other First Nations men broke their treaty by joining the army, because they wanted the right to defend their own country.

"Why let someone else do that?" he asked.