OTTAWA - Leading veterans' organizations say Prime Minister Stephen Harper should kill any proposal to award the first Victoria Cross minted in Canada to the Unknown Soldier.
They say the Unknown Soldier is meant to honour all who have donned the uniform to fight for Canada, and that awarding the highest medal for bravery to him would violate the spirit behind the tribute.
Harper was noncommittal Tuesday when asked whether he planned to proceed with awarding the Canadian Victoria Cross to the Unknown Soldier.
"I haven't made a final decision," Harper told a news conference in Toronto. "We've actually had a mixed response from veterans' organizations, not all opposed but some opposed, some in favour and the government hasn't taken a final decision on that."
The remains of an anonymous soldier killed in the First World War were put in a concrete tomb and placed at the National War Memorial in Ottawa during a solemn ceremony in 2000. It is known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Bob Butt, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Legion, said the medal should go to a living soldier who is being honoured for bravery.
"It is the first Canadian Victoria Cross, and it should go to the fist Canadian who has earned it," Butt said in an interview.
Another option would be put it on display in the memorial chamber on Parliament Hill, he said.
The Victoria Cross, a British medal, has been presented to 1,350 soldiers, including to 94 Canadians. The last time a Canadian got the award was in 1945.
The Queen approved the creation of a Canadian Victoria Cross in 1993.
Butt acknowledged the idea of awarding the first Victoria Cross to the Unknown Soldier was initially embraced by some veterans, but he said most quickly changed their minds.
The idea is to honour those who "fought and died as a common soldier," and awarding the medal to the Unknown Soldier would unnecessarily elevate him, he said.
