FOR ALL CANADIAN VETERANS

Greetings and Salutations to All....

You might want to sign the petition noted below, I will leave it up to you.....

Mike


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That's crazy! I wonder why the Legion would shun reservists like you and your wife...doesn't make sense at all. I believe they treat Canadian Vietnam veterans the same way. Shame on them.

How did you get hurt serving one night a week and an occassional weekend?

Geoff

You know, I try to avoid politics, but I just can't let this one go. Why should the Legion consider you a veteran? Did you serve outside of Canada? Were you ever shot at? Did you fight? You are a volunteer and that is something to be proud of, you served our Country, in our military, and that is noble and good. But does that make you a Veteran? I think not. Nor did I consider myself a veteran while serving in Canada in the PRes.

Lots of Canadians before you (and me) served in the Militia. Were they Veterans? No! Those who volunteered for the North West Rebellion, Boer War, etc etc, I would say You Bet!

So, you want a Veteran plate and a feel good medal? Gimme a break.

Ladies and Gentlemen......

All I have to ask is how many of the brave people we have lost in all our conflicts and during peacekeeping operations that have started off their military career as reservists..... And how many of those reservists have we lost in the last couple of years.....????? Just because we were not called does not mean that we were not ready to serve.....

Mike

Well, I was hoping everyone would get along but that seems to be all for naught. I have been messaged by Tom to cancel his membership...so I will be doing so as per his request.

Please guys, you wear the same uniform...get along nice. In my opinion, full-time or reservist...man or woman...all of you deserve all the benefits becoming of you for serving our country. I tip my hat to all of you.

I wish Tom all the best in his future endeavours and thank him for his participation here. He has an open invite to join us again if he so chooses in the future.

Dale

Now that this has spun out of control I would like to add my vision on this as well. Over here in the Netherlands our definition of a veteran is the following: A former soldier or conscript, who is a Dutch citizen and has served the Kingdom during a war or peacekeeping missions.

Having said that, I am also a reservist as I am still studying apart from that and I think that former reservists are not to be considered veterans. To put it bluntly, we are the 'weekend soldiers' and will very likely not experience any real danger, let alone be shot at. Therefore I do not even want some sort of trivial recognition like a number plate or a medal. In my opinion, that is reserved for the 'real' veterans. Who have put their lives on the line for their country.

Regarding the medal in question, if I had a choice I would prefer not to be awarded it. I find it embarrassing enough trying to explain the CPSM and don't need another which IMO cheapens the other medals that it would be mounted beside. It's like having reproductions mixed in a group of expensive collectibles... it lessens the impact of the great originals that are there. And besides, potential recipients really shouldn't have a say with regards to the issue of a new award. If you are presented it wear it, but don't ask for something to be created for yourself. That's how I see it.

Infanteer90 wrote:Regarding the medal in question, if I had a choice I would prefer not to be awarded it..... And besides, potential recipients really shouldn't have a say with regards to the issue of a new award. If you are presented it wear it, but don't ask for something to be created for yourself. That's how I see it.

I feel the same way and you'll not convince me otherwise. The Primary Reserve get the exact same "recognition" opportunities as the Regular Force; it's called the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD). However if they parade (say 3 hrs tops) the minimum, (once every 30 days(3hrs) = 12 times a year(36hrs) = for 12 years(432hrs or 18 days!) they get a CD same as the 12 year Regular who goes 24/7. Sure most do more than that but some do not and get the same "recognition". And before anyone lays into me; Yes, I do know we don't really go 24/7 but we do certainly more than someone whose military career is part time by definition.

Outside that, doing a tour, being Gallant or Meritorious to get a medal is the same for both. :talktothehand:

As for this GGVSM thing.......what a joke. Have you actually read this? The proponents bring the CVSM ("voluntarily served on Active Service...honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total voluntary service...03 Sep 39 to 01 Mar 47") and the KVSM ("Korea and the adjacent areas, including Japan, Okinawa and Korean waters...27 Jun 50 to 27 Jul 54")as comparisons. These were for volunteering for Active Service (you know; to fight) and you actually had to leave the Armoury in Wetaskawin or Montreal to earn them. Sure, the CVSM didn't reqr you to leave Canada but the overseas bar took care of that. Still poor examples to hold up against this thing. Yet they want to dole this out for "...365 days of uninterrupted honourable duty in the service of their country Canada, since 2 March 1947."?????? A little broad ain't it? Talk about demeaning the whole honours and awards idea, eh? I can't believe John Blatherwick signed it!!!

Anyway, I wouldn't sign this to save my life and I certainly wouldn't wear it.

regards
Darrell

-Primary Reserve Veteran
-Cold War Veteran
-Peacekeeping Veteran (UN)
-Peacemaking Veteran (NATO)
-Afghanistan Veteran and
-26 yr Regular just finished working for a Primary Reserve Unit
-In reciept of a VAC pension too....a veeeerrrrry small one for being Reg Airborne Armoured Recce.
(hows that for insight? :lol: )