Canadian Victoria Cross Unveiled...

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Governor General of Canada

May 14, 2008 07:06 ET
Media Advisory: Governor General to Unveil the Canadian Victoria Cross

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 14, 2008) - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, will unveil the Canadian Victoria Cross on Friday, May 16, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at Rideau Hall.

The Victoria Cross is the highest of Canada's Military Valour Decorations, which comprise the Victoria Cross (V.C.), the Star of Military Valour (S.M.V.) and the Medal of Military Valour (M.M.V.). The Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals in the Canadian Honours System.

The Victoria Cross recognizes members of the Canadian Forces for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy.

The Chancellery of Honours, at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, the Department of National Defence, Natural Resources Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint, Veterans Affairs Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom worked in partnership to produce the Canadian Victoria Cross.

Technical Briefing for the media-Thursday, May 15, 2008 - Rideau Hall - 10 a.m.

The media are invited to receive information, under embargo, at a technical briefing the day before the unveiling ceremony. This will be an opportunity to hear from the key experts involved in the production of the Victoria Cross.

Media interested in attending this session are asked to come to Rideau Hall at 9:45 a.m.

Unveiling Ceremony-Friday, May 16, 2008 - Rideau Hall - 11 a.m.

Media interested in attending the unveiling ceremony should arrive by 10:15 a.m.

For more information on the Canadian Honours System and the Military Valour Decorations, please visit www.gg.ca/honours.

[chris vickery]

Please explain the difference between the VC and the CVC???

As far as I'm concerned, the only "real" Victoria Cross is the one issued by HM to entitled recipients. Was this same VC not made of bronze smelted down from captured cannon of Crimean War vintage?

Does the Royal Canadian Mint plan on borrowing or buying some of the captured stock bronze? Does this "plan" indcate that some CF personell are on their way to earning a VC?

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Please explain the difference between the VC and the CVC???

As far as I'm concerned, the only "real" Victoria Cross is the one issued by HM to entitled recipients. Was this same VC not made of bronze smelted down from captured cannon of Crimean War vintage?

Does the Royal Canadian Mint plan on borrowing or buying some of the captured stock bronze? Does this "plan" indcate that some CF personell are on their way to earning a VC?

The only difference is that ours is now stamped "PRO VALORE" rather than "FOR VALOUR". The issuing criteria is identical to the British VC, and I believe the Monarch must consent to its being awarded. At least that means Joe Average won't be getting it for rescuing cats out of trees or somesuch (yet).

I don't know whether it's made out of the same bronze remaining from the guns captured in Crimea - I had heard some time ago (when Mike Chapters' site was up) that they were starting to run short of it.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

The only difference is that ours is now stamped "PRO VALORE" rather than "FOR VALOUR". The issuing criteria is identical to the British VC, and I believe the Monarch must consent to its being awarded. At least that means Joe Average won't be getting it for rescuing cats out of trees or somesuch (yet).

I don't know whether it's made out of the same bronze remaining from the guns captured in Crimea - I had heard some time ago (when Mike Chapters' site was up) that they were starting to run short of it.

From this NR this morning it appears that some original material is used in the manufacture of out own VC..

Wouldn't be surprised to see one awarded soon..God bless the lads and lassies...Give 'em all one..

May 16, 2008 11:20 ET
Canadian Victoria Cross Unveiled

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 16, 2008) - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, today unveiled the Canadian Victoria Cross at Rideau Hall, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Canada, parliamentarians, Members of the Canadian Forces, veterans and other distinguished guests.

The Victoria Cross was created for the members of the Canadian Forces, to recognize the highest acts of valour, self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy.

"The Victoria Cross is the highest degree of recognition one could hope to receive in the course of a lifetime" the Governor Gereral said. "It was important to us that we create a design that would honour tradition and that we produce the Canadian Victoria Cross right here in Canada."

The Canadian Victoria Cross is almost identical to the original decoration. It bears the Canadian floral emblems and the motto on the obverse has been changed from "For Valour" to its latin equivalent "Pro Valore". To keep a symbolic link to its past, the decoration was made by including a percentage of the gun metal used in the manufacture of the Commonwealth Victoria Cross. To make a similar link with a Canadian historic event, a percentage of the copper used to produce the Confederation Medal in 1867 was also included.

The Chancellery of Honours, at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, the Department of National Defence, Natural Resources Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint, Veterans Affairs Canada, the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom worked in partnership to produce the Canadian Victoria Cross.

For more information, photos and a booklet on the production of the Canadian Victoria Cross, please visit: www.gg.ca.

For more information, please contact
Rideau Hall Press Office
Marie-Paule Thorn
613-993-2569 Cell.: 613-301-2764
www.gg.ca
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[Mark W. Tonner]

The new Canadian Victoria Cross:

[Bruce MacMillan]

I have to agree with Chris. If it's good enough for the rest of the Commonwealth, why isn't it good enough for Canada? Maybe Quebec...I mean Ottawa doesn't like the English only wording. Messing with the formula by diluting the casting of the original cannon only waters down the historical significance. Who's going to present it, the Queen or some elected /appointed bureaucrat?

[Snowtractor]

So is that french or latin , not being an expert in either.
Sean

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Snowtractor

So is that french or latin , not being an expert in either.
Sean

Latin, meathead ... at least they didn't do it in French too! Still, as Bruce said, it's a pointless exercise. Talk about pedantry! One more way we can divorce ourselves from the Crown. I wonder what asshole originally came up with this idea? Can I shoot him first?

[Snowtractor]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Latin, meathead Can I shoot him first?

THAT'S "MR. MEATHEAD" to you pruneface! And yes, yes you can shoot him. :-)

Sean