The Unknown Soldier

[leonardcohen]

http://video.sympatico.msn.com/v/en-ca/v.h...d1d&f=37&fg=rss

What do you think of this?

I tend to agree with the various veterans groups that the tomb of the unknown soldier should be left unadorned as it represents all soldiers that gave their lives.

The Victoria Cross is given for Valor to an individuals actions,

giving it to someone unknown would somehow cheapen it.

I wonder why Veteran Affairs didn't ask The Royal Canadian Legion and others representing Veterans their opinion or even a heads up?

[Wilber]

I agree 100% with the vets. The VC was never intended for that and has never been given to anyone other than an individual for an individual act of bravery by any Commonwealth country. It may be well intentioned but it's a bad idea.

[na85]

I've visited the tomb in Ottawa. We stood outside in the pouring rain for twenty minutes in silence, most of us cowed by the quiet dignity of the tomb. It's a very sombre and moving monument.

I can understand the government's position here, but I agree that The Unknown Soldier is a testament to the bravery of all soldiers, everywhere.

The Victoria Cross should not be awarded to him, despite his bravery.

[Army Guy]

I think we are missing the true meaning of the unknown soldier, The tomb of the unknown soldier represents all those Canadians, men and women who have died with no known grave in all of Canada's wars. It represents a place for our nation to mourn those who have have no known grave site, no marker for family to pay respects to, to place flowers on, to talk to... And to honour them we built the tomb of our own on our own soil. Yes it represents alot of common soldiers, it does not represent "all" that have died, just those that have died, and paid the ultimate price and remain nameless, faceless, and graveless.

As a soldier, i can not fathom what it was like in WWI, yes i've read dozens of books seen hundreds of photos, and have been recently in combat, and still i can not equate my experiances and knowledge to what it was like at vimy ridge or normandy beach, and to put it bluntly everyone of them must of had huge balls of brass to scramble out of a trench only to face withering machine gun, arty, and rifle fire. to run serveral hundred meters thru mud and shell holes to the enemies trench line to engage them in close quater combat. All this in conditions none of us could imigine, to me they are all hero's ,one and all.

Perhasp the tomb of the unknown soldier is the wrong place or memorial to place or give such a medal as our version of the victory cross to, we do have memorials to honour each conflict, and to those that have died in those conflicts, but we do not have a place or memorial that honours or represents "ALL the Canadian soldiers" thier sprite, thier sacrafice.

But most Canadians have equated the tomb of the unknown soldier, to represent all those that have died in all our conflicts , it is a place where our nation gathers to honour them in Nov, to keep our promise that we will never forget, so why not honour them "all" with our nations highest reward, after all the tomb is becoming a symbol that represents not one man but "all the men,and women that have answers our nations call to duty and have parished in that act.

There is lots of talk here and in the media that this medal is for one extreme act of bravery, that one act that has been observed and recorded by someone else, who thought it was above and beyond, a common soldiers duties. and by giving this to a common soldier would cheapen it some how, as if it was not earned.

And yet the history channel has interviewed many soldiers who have been honoured with medals of bravery, and they will all say "they don't consider themselfs as elite" or special, they did what needed to be done, that being said everyday soldiers accomplish acts of bravery, that go unnoticed or unrewarded let this presentation be for them, for all those acts , for all those soldiers. I don't think any of those that have been presented the VC or future canidates of our new medal would mind or care that they share there status with the Unknown soldier.

My prospective on medals, they are made of ribbon and metal, presented on behalf of our nation to say thanks for services rendered, the serve only to show others of your services rendered or accomplishments And i would gladly trade all of them if it meant i could bring back one of my comrads back from the dead.

I think the Governor generals eulogy speaks towards my piont.

My Webpage

[Wilber]

Ya learn something every day. Apparently there is a precedent for this. In 1921 the British awarded a VC to the American unknown soldier of WWI and the Americans reciprocated by awarding the British unknown soldier the Medal of Honor.

[Mad_Michael]

I don't like it as it smells like a cheap publicity stunt.

I'd much rather see some real money or effort put into serving our wounded veterans - or dealing with the families of wounded veterans (who may suffer loss of pay). Soldier's familes on military bases going to food banks makes me cringe for my country.

[Army Guy]

I don't like it as it smells like a cheap publicity stunt.

Regardless of which party does it, it's going to make for a photo op. Canadians will have to keep in mind the real reason it's for.

I've read in the letters to the editor perhaps the best solution todate. Issue the first medal to the people of Canada, past and present and let it hang in our nations war museum for all to see.

I'd much rather see some real money or effort put into serving our wounded veterans - or dealing with the families of wounded veterans (who may suffer loss of pay). Soldier's familes on military bases going to food banks makes me cringe for my country.

Although this issue is not about money but rather honour. Our government is making progress in regards to putting more money into our wounded soldiers programs, which includes treating families as well.

There is not that many soldiers today that depend on food banks as there was say 5 years ago, not many soldiers actually complain about wages we earn, most will say we are well paid when compared to other western armies. we may not have the same amount of benifits we had 5 years ago, but we are well paid.

[M.Dancer]

Considering there are actuall acts of bravery by contemporary sodiers, why this empty act is needed is beyond me.

[Wilber]

Even though the British did it once before for another country, The VC is also the highest honour for a Britain, Australian or New Zealander (and possibly others). None of them has seen fit to award it to their own unknown soldier. Canada is making a basic change when it comes to the criteria used for what is possibly the most esteemed award for valour there is. The VC and what it stands for belongs to more countries than just Canada. I'm not sure about this.

[Wilber]

Considering there are actuall acts of bravery by contemporary sodiers, why this empty act is needed is beyond me.

The awarding of a VC is not an empty act, it is a most serious act.

[Figleaf]

Technically, I don't see how the Unknown Soldier can qualify for this award. It is specifically awarded for conspicuous bravery. Being Unknown is axiomatically not conspicuous.

[M.Dancer]

Considering there are actuall acts of bravery by contemporary sodiers, why this empty act is needed is beyond me.

The awarding of a VC is not an empty act, it is a most serious act.

The unknown soldier is a symbol. Giving the highest award for bravery to a symbol is an empty act.

[Wilber]

Considering there are actuall acts of bravery by contemporary sodiers, why this empty act is needed is beyond me.

The awarding of a VC is not an empty act, it is a most serious act.

The unknown soldier is a symbol. Giving the highest award for bravery to a symbol is an empty act.

He is a symbol but there is a real soldier who died in a real war under that monument.