[RoyalHighlander]

Below is a petition website for a proposal to reintroduce the (CVSM) Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. The original petition was for this proposed medal to be entitled (GGVSM) Governor General's Volunteer Service Medal. I have proposed that the title be amended to (QVSM) Queen's Volunteer Service Medal. Hopefully the concept will be approved whichever title is ultimately assigned. Take a moment if you will and check out this site

On January 1st, 1947, we were no longer known as British subjects living in Canada, we were appropriately and officially called Canadian. Yet in two months after becoming Canadian, our traditional volunteer service medal was stopped on March 1st, 1947!? The proposed and supported GGVSM to be effective 2 March 1947 is not unlike that of other commonwealth countries such as Australia that in 2006 introduced an Australian Defence Medal retroactive to 3 September 1945. To honour those Canadians that had the courage and conviction to volunteer to serve their nation, we should not be forgetting our Heritage and our history, we should be embracing it for the remembrance of all that have served. The comments of those on the electronic version of the GGVSM Petition are very warming and kind. For our Veterans and what they have done, let's get this one done.



http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/volunteer-service-medal-for-our-veterans.html

[martin14]

done

[PENATRATOR]

I was given a medal for each of my 5 tours (well OK, 2 of them were in the Stan only got one, no numeral)
Mean nothing to me, I don't need another meaningless gong, I know what I did and where I served.


** Now that I looked closer at that site, it looks like it was something started by a disgruntled former service person, who never went on tour, never stayed around long enough for their CD, but wants to have something to show off at the legion. What a joke

[Highlandfury]

Mr. Penetrator,
I too wear seven medals for 30 years of service and various overseas postings. I have had the occasion to work alongside many reservists who for whatever reasons never managed to get posted overseas. I have also worked with many young soldiers and airmen who decided to take their release before they qualified for a CD (long service good conduct medal). The one common fact that applies to all these personnel is the fact that they stepped up to the plate and volunteered to serve their country. Each and every one of them wrote a blank cheque to their country for any amount up to and including the sacrificing of their very lives if need be. I think that deserves recognition. You call this initiative a joke? If it is a joke, it is one with no comedy associated with it. The issuance of a Queen's Volunteer Service Medal is a most appropriate proposal, in fact it is something that is required to address an area of service currently not covered by our honours and awards authority. My vote is a most hearty YES!

[Regina]

Mr. Penetrator ??

[Brenda]

Would you rather him being called MRS Penetrator??

[Yogi]

Also done. In the memory of my father Hector, 49th Loyal Edmonton Regiment, RCOC, Ret.

As well as my own personal support for all who have/are serving.

[PENATRATOR]

Highlandfury Highlandfury:

Mr. Penetrator,
I too wear seven medals for 30 years of service and various overseas postings. I have had the occasion to work alongside many reservists who for whatever reasons never managed to get posted overseas. I have also worked with many young soldiers and airmen who decided to take their release before they qualified for a CD (long service good conduct medal). The one common fact that applies to all these personnel is the fact that they stepped up to the plate and volunteered to serve their country. Each and every one of them wrote a blank cheque to their country for any amount up to and including the sacrificing of their very lives if need be. I think that deserves recognition. You call this initiative a joke? If it is a joke, it is one with no comedy associated with it. The issuance of a Queen's Volunteer Service Medal is a most appropriate proposal, in fact it is something that is required to address an area of service currently not covered by our honours and awards authority. My vote is a most hearty YES!

If you need to make yourself feel good by getting another `medal`good for you hero.

[HDBIKER]

Medals don't measure a persons heart or willingness to sacrifice their life for their country. Many service members will tell you that it's just a job. Miners who work underground and live out of a pack sac, crab fishermen, ocean oil rig workers and many other tradesmen risk their lives on a daily basis for a pay check. Many sacrifice not being with family, etc... Honour our service men and women but by all means we should not ignore thoses who served during a time of war and did not have the opportunity to fight. Assume 50% who join the CF do 3 years service and get out. If during that time there was a war (IE the Gulf War), why should they not be recognized for their time in. Because they didn't collect the "gongs" that Predator did doesn't mean that they are any less of a soldier - perhaps even more so than some with a chest full of medals. If a CVSM was awarded to CF members who served 18 months or more during a time of war as in the past (prior to 1948), it's a sign that our government recognizes them for their willingness to fight. It's like wearing the old t-shirts that said "I survided Cornwallis". To anyone in the military - who cares - we all survived Cornwallis! But for the person wearing the shirt, it's a symbol of pride and accomplishment. I'm not a medal hog and see no real value in them (just look South of the border on the amount of medals they have). I would however wear a CVSM with pride as a symbol of my time in the CF espcially during a time of war. Despite our best efforts and intentions, we don't all get a chance to shine in battle - much is left to destiny.

[Yugi]

Medals are nice, I'll get on it.

[2Cdo]

Nope. Sounds like what Pen said. Disgruntled guy who hung around the canteen, made excuses to avoid overseas service(which he would have been decorated for) and now wants something to go with his solitary CD gong so he doesn't look like a poser when telling war stories at the Legion.

I wouldn't accept this attendance medal because we already have a few of them, the CD, Peacekeeper gong, and SSM come to mind right off the bat.

[Freakinoldguy]

You Army guys sure are lucky getting something shiny to remember your deployment by.

When we, in the senior service went on deployment, or in our venacular, cruise, the only thing I can ever remember getting for my trouble was a dose and it sure as hell wasn't shiny.

[Daisybreak]

Done.

[DVC185]

Interesting project and I have mixed feelings on it. Unfortunately, as a serving member, I cannot petition the government but wish you luck with this. For those guys who have 10 lbs of medals hanging from their tunic, they have a right to feel they earned them. But that does not detract from the contributions of those who elect a short stay in the CF.

I can understand the position of Penatrator and 2Cdo but I also see the merit in this award. In my case, after 34 years of hanging around the mob, it might be pointless in offering one to me. I have never been selected for an overseas position and every time there were adventures in various parts of the world, I was working at SAR units or in staff functions…I wasn’t going anywhere. Having peaked in rank and a recipient of the MMM 10 years ago, I don’t think I have sat around the canteen and avoided assignments.

To my point: my mind wanders back to Oka with the young soldiers doing what was asked. If they didn’t stay to get a CD or their regiment did not deploy, why not have a medal for his/her service? What about young folks who were at the fires in BC or the floods in Winnipeg or that ice storm they had in Ontario? Or those folks who worked SAR??? Not everybody who joins makes the CF a career and they release after three to five years. Maybe their service should be recognized by a volunteer service medal and I would support that.

[Chumley]

I don't need a medal, I still have my uniform.
But whatever floats your boat.