Freedom....

With Remembrance Day on the horizon, Canadians are looking to express appreciation for the country’s veterans, perhaps hoping to don war medals earned by their deceased relatives. But this last week, many Canadians learned that a little-known law actually forbids that gesture of respect and tribute. Article 419 of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits “the wearing of orders, decorations and medals by anyone other than the individual who was awarded the honour.” Within a few years we’re going to have a large amount of medals that were awarded to Canadians, including the Victoria Cross, that no one can display.’ Jeff Rose Martland, executive director of veterans group Our duty Jeff Rose-Martland, executive director of the Canadian veterans group Our Duty, says his constituency generally opposes the idea of people wearing the medal of a living veteran. When it comes to deceased veterans, it’s been pretty universal. I myself believe that medals suggested the medals could be put in a small display case and carried at Remembrance Day services rather than being worn when and if a family feels it just.

The law came to light after Our Duty announced a campaign called “Veterans Among Us”. which sought to raise awareness of Canada’s 900,000 veterans. While fielding questions about war medals, Our Duty learned of the 91 year old statute prohibiting someone else from wearing of medals received by living or deceased veterans. The organization promptly issued a release advising its constituents not to wear the medals of family members, as the act would be a criminal offence. Introduced in 1920, the statute was largely intended to deter people from impersonating returning war veterans, who were entitled to benefits and incentives (like jobs) in the years after service. The statute does not set out a specific penalty, but for summary conviction offences, the penalty is a maximum of six months imprisonment as well as a $ 5,000.00 dollar fine.

Commonwealth nations like Great Britain and Australia have similar restrictions on wearing the medals of a living veteran. The consequences are fines or up to six months in jail. But both countries relax the law if the veteran is deceased.  Our Duty would like to have the Canadian law amended. Over the last few decades, there have been backbench motions to change the statute, but they were quickly voted down. Ultimately there is a warranted concerned that this old law stands in the way of giving veterans their proper due of respect while at the same time not forgetting the history of those which have served – mind you many veterans which pass on most often which to be buried with their full attire along with their medals of which they earned while serving.

As we approach a hundred years past the end of World War I. We don’t have any Great War veterans left, the World War II veterans are passing, and within a few years we’re going to have a large amount of medals that were awarded to Canadians, including the Victoria Cross, that no one can display – I would tend to think that it’s an adaptation within how we handle the manner in which we respect those of which  have served.

 

 

 

~ Lest We Forget ~