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Yet another guy with way too much time on his hands.
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=ab099cb5-7894-4111-afa0-6cf1597df53c
A couple of points:
"¢ First, I know Pierre Senecal, have for about 35 years or more. I do not know him all that well but well enough to stop for a brief chat when we meet somewhere or other. He is something of an Anglophobe, perhaps part of a 'republican' clique which was quite strong in the R22eR a few decades back - around 1970, when I first got to know Senecal. I think most of that group were driven more by a distaste for les mausdits anglais than for a unique Canadian nation. I thought Senecal and many other R22eR officers of that generation were, primarily, Québecers; and
"¢ As the article notes, we have already been there and back - in the 1970s when the Cross of Valour, Star of Courage and Medal for Bravery were introduced. The VC was reintroduced when a distinct set of military bravery awards were inaugurated in the '90s.
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=ab099cb5-7894-4111-afa0-6cf1597df53c
Veteran wants 'truly Canadian' military medal
Forces' top honour should be the Vimy Cross, not the British-themed Victoria Cross, ex-general says
Chris Lackner
The Ottawa Citizen
August 21, 2005
"Canada should abandon the Victoria Cross and create its own elite military award, according to one retired general.
The medal is needed now that the last living recipient of the Victoria Cross -- Ernest "Smokey" Smith -- has passed away, says Pierre Senecal, a retired brigadier-general from Ottawa.
And he knows just what the top Canadian decoration of valour should be called: The Vimy Cross, in honour of the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge in which nearly 4,000 Canadians lost their lives.
"We took Vimy Ridge after both the the British and French failed to break through the German lines -- and we had four Canadian divisions fighting together for the first time," Mr. Senecal said. "It was that battle that promoted Canada to nationhood."
While the Victoria Cross is a highly regarded honour, Mr. Senecal said it's a British military symbol that doesn't reflect Canadian independence. The 70-year-old veteran said his proposal is not meant to diminish the achievements of Mr. Smith, who died on Aug. 3, or any other Victoria Cross recipients.
We need a truly Canadian decoration, not one instituted in another country. After so many years and so many experiences, we've proven ourselves internationally and we should have our own highest declaration."
The Victoria Cross was first issued by Queen Victoria in 1856 during the Crimean War, becoming the highest decoration for soldiers of the British Commonwealth. Ninety-four Canadians have earned the Victoria Cross, including 16 during the Second World War.
In 1972, Canada replaced the British Victoria Cross with the Cross of Valour as its senior medal for bravery. In 1993, the government created the Modern Honours of Canada, introducing a Canadian version of the Victoria Cross as its top award, as well as the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour.
The Canadian Victoria Cross has never been awarded, but potential candidates must demonstrate "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy."
Mr. Senecal, whose 38-year military career saw him stationed in Germany, Congo, Cyprus and France, said he recently wrote the Royal Canadian Legion concerning his Vimy Cross proposal, but received no response.
Contacted by the Citizen, the legion was opposed to the idea.
"We would not support any movement to re-name or replace the Victoria Cross," said Bob Butt, the legion's director of communications.
Mr. Butt said the organization might consider supporting the creation of a new award, but noted "there are already three major medals in Canada for bravery."
The British Victoria Cross is a bronze Maltese cross featuring a lion perched above a royal crown. The words "For Valour" appear below the crown.
Mr. Senecal said the new Vimy Cross should be modelled after the wooden crosses that were raised by Canadian soldiers after the Vimy Ridge battle.
Steel from one of Canada's vintage tanks or guns could be used when crafting the awards, he suggests.
The creation of a new medal or military decoration can often take more than six years to approve and design, said Eric Richer, a spokesman for the Governor General -- the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces.
"The first thing we ask is whether there is a medal already in existence that serves this function," Mr. Richer said.
"We're not going to create a medal just for the sake of having one with a different name. We don't want to duplicate other federal or provincial awards."
A new award needs to be approved at several levels: Two committees made upof representatives from various government departments; the Prime Minister's Office; and finally, the Queen.
But Mr. Senecal is undeterred by the bureaucratic hurdles. After gauging popular support for the initiative, he plans to submit his proposal to the government.
"Some ideas start slowly and take their time to make their way. For Canadians -- especially the military -- this would be a major move."
© The Ottawa Citizen 2005
A couple of points:
"¢ First, I know Pierre Senecal, have for about 35 years or more. I do not know him all that well but well enough to stop for a brief chat when we meet somewhere or other. He is something of an Anglophobe, perhaps part of a 'republican' clique which was quite strong in the R22eR a few decades back - around 1970, when I first got to know Senecal. I think most of that group were driven more by a distaste for les mausdits anglais than for a unique Canadian nation. I thought Senecal and many other R22eR officers of that generation were, primarily, Québecers; and
"¢ As the article notes, we have already been there and back - in the 1970s when the Cross of Valour, Star of Courage and Medal for Bravery were introduced. The VC was reintroduced when a distinct set of military bravery awards were inaugurated in the '90s.