Nobody Wants A Victoria Cross
(Cross-posted from The Phantom Observer.)
The VC is not a medal that the average soldier particularly wants to get.
You see, in order to get it, you have to do something demonstrating the "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." In other words, you'd have to be in a horrific battle, dealing with people whose primary aim in life is to kill you, and you'd have to do something that means the odds of you living to see the end of it are nil at best.
In that kind of situation, a soldier simply isn't interested in getting something pinned to his chest. He's more worried about whether or not he'll see the next sunrise. And seeing that his mates do the same.
This is why, when a soldier does do something so valourous that it's considered worthy of a VC, he or she is always surprised about getting one. It's not really about merit; it's about an action. One that displays a human quality (bravery) that's a very rare thing to see or agree about in a life-or-death situation.
So I can understand why some veterans don't want to see the Canadian Unknown Soldier get the new Canadian VC.
Now, to be fair, it should be pointed out that the American Unknown Soldier of World War I, the one buried at Arlington, was in fact honored with a VC at the time of his interment. However, that particular VC was ungazetted, and this happened in 1921, three years after the end of the Great War, when emotions about that cataclysmic event were still out and pretty raw. So it's not surprising that the rules regarding the VC would be relaxed for the Unknown Soldier ceremony.
The PM is showing signs that he might heed the veterans on this matter, and I hope that he does. Perhaps someday a Canadian soldier -- maybe in Afghanistan, maybe elsewhere -- may do something worthy of a VC, but as of this writing it hasn't happened yet. The Unknown Soldier is meant to honor people; the VC is meant to honor the deed.
The VC is not a medal that the average soldier particularly wants to get.
You see, in order to get it, you have to do something demonstrating the "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." In other words, you'd have to be in a horrific battle, dealing with people whose primary aim in life is to kill you, and you'd have to do something that means the odds of you living to see the end of it are nil at best.
In that kind of situation, a soldier simply isn't interested in getting something pinned to his chest. He's more worried about whether or not he'll see the next sunrise. And seeing that his mates do the same.
This is why, when a soldier does do something so valourous that it's considered worthy of a VC, he or she is always surprised about getting one. It's not really about merit; it's about an action. One that displays a human quality (bravery) that's a very rare thing to see or agree about in a life-or-death situation.
So I can understand why some veterans don't want to see the Canadian Unknown Soldier get the new Canadian VC.
"[The Victoria Cross] is a very special award, it has never been given lightly," Bob Butt, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Legion, told CBC News on Monday.
Federal government sources, speaking anonymously to various media outlets this week, said the government plans to revive the Victoria Cross and the first recipient will be the Unknown Soldier.
The Globe and Mail reported Saturday that the medal, with a special Canadian design, will be presented to Prime Minister Stephen Harper by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony in France in April. Harper will bring the medal back to Canada.
But the Canadian Legion said the Unknown Soldier is supposed to represent all veterans, not singled out with such a high award.
Now, to be fair, it should be pointed out that the American Unknown Soldier of World War I, the one buried at Arlington, was in fact honored with a VC at the time of his interment. However, that particular VC was ungazetted, and this happened in 1921, three years after the end of the Great War, when emotions about that cataclysmic event were still out and pretty raw. So it's not surprising that the rules regarding the VC would be relaxed for the Unknown Soldier ceremony.
The PM is showing signs that he might heed the veterans on this matter, and I hope that he does. Perhaps someday a Canadian soldier -- maybe in Afghanistan, maybe elsewhere -- may do something worthy of a VC, but as of this writing it hasn't happened yet. The Unknown Soldier is meant to honor people; the VC is meant to honor the deed.
posted by VW at 11:10 p.m.
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