Canada's Victoria Cross

[dcbogey]

Why not give a VC to all who die in the line of service? Why shouldn't the highest sacrifice be given the highest award? After all, you've only one life to give. And why is one soldier's death less important than a more brave solider's death? Though a soldier's acts of bravery may vary, aren't our soldier's lives all equally important?

From the Veteran's Affairs Canada website, the VC is awarded "for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy"
Clearly each soldiers death, while tragic, does not fit the terms of the VC.

Murder is the worst crime.

What about the sexual abuse and exploitation of children?

Doctors will break their backs to help people live.

And yet some doctors will not see patients who smoke

Why is there no importance given to soldiers who give their lives for their country? After all, once they're dead, what more can they possible give to their country?

Ever heard of Remeberance Day? We should all say thank you to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. That is their continuing gift, their legacy to us.

 

[basketcase]

While giving a medal to a representative soldier strikes me as strange, there have been many actions by soldiers that deserved to recieve the VC but often because of rank or other politics (or because no witnesses were left behind), it hasn't happened. (the ones that were awarded were earned as well - though perhaps a couple might have been misdirected)

The Unknown Soldier is a representative for all of those who's final resting place is unknown. I guess I can see him getting a medal to represent all of the unknown or unpublicized heroic acts that have occured.

 

[The Daulfin]

Yeah, I guess dying while fighting for one's country isn't brave enough of an act to win the highest award possible.

To be fair, the unknown soldier could've been busted down ranks a few times and on the verge of dishonourable discharge when he stepped on a landmine while ineptly painting a fence. Is that someone you want to potentially be giving our highest military honour? Not everyone who dies while enlisted is dying while fighting.

As for your later suggeston that all soldiers who die be given the VC, I am fairly sure there is a different medal given to all who die in service. The VC is reserved for those who go above and beyond the call of duty, not just anyone. While it takes a certain kind of person to serve at all, it takes someone exceptional to face certain death in a heroic fashion to save one's comrades or innocents. It's different and every soldier knows it, even if you don't understand why.