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A post by The Monarchist - a former naval officer - at The Torch laments the lack of tradition and history in our current Canadian honours system.
Here's the link: http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2006/12/our-soldiers-deserve-more-on-which-to.html
And here's an excerpt:
I'm of two minds about this. While I understand the desire for uniquely Canadian traditions separate from our British roots, and see the inevitability of enduring a period of "traditionlessness" (for lack of a better word) as we grow into those new honours, Monarchist's post resonates with me.
Right now, Sgt Tower is quite literally in a class all his own, a society of precisely one. And Flight Lieutenant Christopher Hasler, Canadian DFC winner with the RAF is not - he joins a very distinguished tradition. It hardly seems fair.
Thoughts?
Here's the link: http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2006/12/our-soldiers-deserve-more-on-which-to.html
And here's an excerpt:
...until Sgt. Tower won the SMV, nobody even heard of it, nobody, including veterans, knew what it was. They still don't. That's because unlike the VC and DFC, there is no instinctive knowledge, no shared experience, no inherent value and no transcendent significance to the order. Sgt. Tower is literally in a class all of his own, which is of course to his immense credit, but with nobody to share it with, the brave sergeant will spend a good deal of his time in the Remembrance Days to come explaining to people the significance of the SMV.
Had he won the Distinguished Service Cross, he would have joined the legions of veterans in Canada and across the Commonwealth who had also won the DSC, he would have been welcomed into their branch societies, he would have mingled and swapped war stories. In this way, the new rejuvenate the old. The heart of the old veteran warms when he discovers that his caste are not a dying breed after all, that the coming new DSC or DFC holders will eventually take their place. The young soldier in turn glows with pride, having been welcomed into their esteemed ranks. Young and old the generations are linked because they share a heritage, are connected by a common history and a common faith for the future.
I'm of two minds about this. While I understand the desire for uniquely Canadian traditions separate from our British roots, and see the inevitability of enduring a period of "traditionlessness" (for lack of a better word) as we grow into those new honours, Monarchist's post resonates with me.
Right now, Sgt Tower is quite literally in a class all his own, a society of precisely one. And Flight Lieutenant Christopher Hasler, Canadian DFC winner with the RAF is not - he joins a very distinguished tradition. It hardly seems fair.
Thoughts?