Canada's Victoria Cross - Never Been Awarded - Jesse Larochelle Should Be The First

 

The Victoria Cross is the highest award anyone serving in the militaries of the Commonwealth can get.  Many Countries in the commonwealth have members of the military who have earned this award for valor, the bulk of them as British Subjects, this includes Canada.  The last time the VC was awarded dates back to 1945.  Canada has adopted it's own version of the VC and that has not been given out unlike say Australia, which does have it's on VC and has awarded it. 

However there is a movement in Canada to change this.  The push is for a gentleman by the name of Jess Larochelle, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment.  While in Afghanistan he defended and held a position that nearly got overrun by the Taliban, mostly while wounded himself and he did so alone.  The position he defended usually would have a team of 4 operating the C6 weapons along with another crew that would fire M72 LAW Rockets.  Mr. Larochelle did this with a broken neck.  For his valor he did receive the SMV (Star of Military Valor)   

Canada is not big on issuing medals to it's military members and with good reason.  The awarding of medals is symbolic, it states that the person did something unique and worthy of note.  If you see a Canadian Military member wearing a rack of medals it means they have done some really extraordinary things in they're career, or have served with distinction especially in an operational capacity.  In most cases you won't see Canadian Military members wearing any medals except those for long service and good conduct.

I would love to see this post go viral and push forward the message that the VC is duly awarded to this very brave and well deserving veteran.  

Resources:

As It Happens interview about the push to get the Victoria Cross Awarded to Pvt Jess Larochelle (ret)

Canadian Legion article about the Victoria Cross.

Petition to have Jess Larochelle awarded the VC.