Opinion

Preserve the Victoria Cross from extinction

by John Aimers
Dominion chairman
Monarchist League of Canada

Recent reports that the govern-
ment plans to eliminate the Vic-
toria Cross as Canada’s premier
gallantry award cannot fail to be
upsetting to all Canadians, and
insulting not only to our veterans,
but also to the brave young men
and women who are serving in the
Persian Gulf.

From 1972, decorations and
awards have been “Canadianized”
— a good policy. But in 1987,
Prime Minister Mulroney admitted
that he did recognize the special
place of the VC, saying: “I have
therefore asked officials to review
the possibility of “Canadianizing’
the Victoria Cross ... this ... would
reconcile two significant objec-
tives: the continued development
of a truly Canadian system of
honors, and the maintenance of an
important link with our military
and Commonwealth heritage.”

What a proud heritage that is!
Established in 1856 by Queen
Victoria, the “Mother of Confed-
eration, the VC was from its
inception more than just “British”
— one of the first recipients was
Canadian A.R. Dunn who acted
with outstanding valor in the
Charge of the Light Brigade.

The third Canadian winner was
William Hall, a black Nova Sco-
tian. When American blacks were
slaves, Canada’s Queen was giv-
ing her highest decoration to one
of her black subjects.

In all, 93 Canadians, from every
province, of many ethnic groups,
have received the VC. In a country
not over-endowed with recognized
heroes, what better material for
Canadian pnde could there be?

Australia recently incorporated
the VC into its honors system; in
the same way, a “Canadianized”’
VC would be given by the Queen
of Canada, on the advice of Cana-
dian officials, administered by the
Honors Chancellery at Rideau
Hall.

It is tragic that this aspect of our
heritage has fallen into the hands
of those forces who seem to hate

Canada’s traditions, and wish to
annihilate our heroes and declare
them and their deeds non-
Canadian.

Many Canadian traditions have
been suppressed in the last 20
years in the name of ‘‘national
unity.” A look at Canada today
Suggests a less united country.

If a faceless Canada continues
to be created we will be left a
rootless people, unaware of who
we are. Discarding the Victoria
Cross would be the latest step on
this fatal path.

Those who wish to preserve a
world-class decoration (available
for any Commonwealth country
who wishes to use it) and honor
our history and our living tradi-
tions should tell the Prime Minis-
ter and ther MP (House of Com-
mons, Ottawa K1A OA4) their
Opinion, now. Background mate-
rial is available from the Monarch-
ist League at Box 1057, Oakville,
Ont. L6J 5E9.

Let’s act together to force Mr.
Mulroney to re-affirm his 1987
intentions, and preserve Canada’s
Victoria Cross.

Tara homecoming
Editor:

We are writing to tell you of an
exciting event to take place in Tara,
Ontario!

On. August 2, 3. &-4,-1991 the-

Township of Arran and the Village
of Tara residents are inviting past
residents to attend their “Home-
coming’’ celebrations.

The Arran Tara Homecoming
Committee are busy making plans
for a very funfilled weekend, with
a friendly, warm setting to renew
old acquaintances.

If any of your readers are past
residents of the area or know of
any such residents, forward their
addresses to the Committee so that
we may ensure a proper invitation
is sent to them, with all details of
our upcoming “Homecoming”
weekend. Contact the Tara & Dis-
trict Kinette Club, Box 220, Tara,
Ontario, Attention: Sharon Trel-
ford. NOH 2NO0.

Sharon Trelford
Tara & District Kinette Club

Problems solved
by newcomer

Editor:

Being-atelative newcomer to the
area, I shall now naively solve all
your transportation problems.

It has been suggested that high
speed catamarans run from Swartz
Bay to downtown Vancouver. It
would seem more rational to run
them from downtown Victoria to
downtown Yancouver, as per the
Sam Bawlf proposal.

This means commuters would
use the local transportation at both
ends.

Do catamarans work? Check
with San Francisco. They have
been using them for years between
San Francisco and Vallejo.

Will this promote more com-
muters? The population here will
not be predicated on the availabil-
ity of land but the availability of
water. Already the district has
broken into the Leech watershed

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SALES/REPAIR
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9422

Slegg Lumber)

and is raising the Sooke Lake dam
for more containment. In the end it
is all rainfall. :

At the Beacon Avenue-Pat Bay
Highway crossing, use a British
style roundabout with an overpass
for the Pat Bay Highway.

Form a stock company and
refurbish the Princess Marguerite
and put her on a summer-long
cruise around the Island and
Queen Charlottes calling at all
ports that will sustain her draft. If
someone thinks she can cross the
Atlantic she must be in better
shape than has been suggested.

R.E.H. Richardson
Sidney

~~"

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