Gen. Rick Hillier: Stories of Canadian heroes must be told

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The National Post is launching Heroes Among Us, a special series on Canadian military valour, celebrating courage in the presence of the enemy. Over the coming weeks, we will propose 10 heroic Canadians who could be the first-ever recipients of the Canadian Victoria Cross, created three decades ago as a homegrown version of the Commonwealth’s highest award for valour. In conjunction with the True Patriot Love Foundation, Anthony Wilson-Smith of Historica Canada, Gen. (ret’d) Rick Hillier and entrepreneur/benefactor Kevin Reed, we will celebrate them all at a June 26 gala at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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I am inspired. I’ve had the profound honour of serving alongside some of the finest individuals this country has produced and I have been driven by the desire to not be judged as wanting by them, my heroes.

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These men and women who answered when the call of duty was most urgent are true ”Heroes Among Us.’’ Some are with us in spirit only; the legendary Ernest “Smokey” Smith, the unbelievable Tommy Prince, brave Andrew Mynarski and tough Francis Pegahmagabow. Others are physically among us; Willy MacDonald, Pat Towers, Bill Fletcher, Ric Stacy, Jeremy Leblanc, Sean Teal, John Barnes, Jacqui Girouard, Kendra Stordy and others. They inspire me every day, their deeds a living testament to their unwavering commitment to Canada.

They are Canadians who served our great nation in the uniform of our country. Soldiers, sailors, aviators and, yes, family members. These individuals embody the very essence of courage, moral and physical. Their service indelibly strengthened the fabric of our society. Their stories are not just of battles fought and won, but profound lessons in patriotism, sacrifice and the enduring spirit of service. Their chests are lined with medals, each one recognizing their dedication, courage, integrity, service and sacrifice. Those Canadian heroes gave so much to us and asked almost nothing in return. They inspire me, especially now, in a time when cynicism and self-interest often dominate.

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It is a poignant truth that the inspiration from these heroes remains confined to those very few who are aware of them. Most Canadians have no idea who they are. Our education systems don’t teach them. Canadian media don’t cover them. Our entertainment industry has not seen fit to showcase them and so they languish in obscurity. Unlike our neighbours to the south, where Hollywood has brought the stories of military heroes to the screen, the sacrifices of our heroes and their tales remain largely untold. In the United States, there would have long ago been a movie about Smokey Smith, Victoria Cross winner, a rough and tough, hard-drinking, scrappy soldier who, in a few hours one night in Italy in 1944, destroyed a German tank, a Self-Propelled Gun and their accompanying infantry, saving the lives of his comrades and holding a critical position. This larger-than-life, oft-demoted Canadian from Vancouver is a storyteller’s dream. Just not in Canada.

Those among us now are even less known, if that’s possible. If you knew, how could you not be inspired by young, baby-faced Jess Larochelle, from Nipissing, Ont., whose valour on Oct. 14, 2006, during a magnificent defence of Strong Point Centre in Afghanistan, after being wounded, earned him the Star of Military Valour, Canada’s second-highest award for valour in the presence of the enemy. Quiet, soft-spoken Jess inspired us with his loyalty to his battle buddies, his mission execution despite a detached retina, broken back, concussions, bleeding eardrums and a shortage of ammo. Many of us believe he should be awarded the Canadian Victoria Cross for his actions. Sadly, we lost Jess last August, at just 40, to his wounds from that day.

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These stories are not just military tales; they are quintessentially Canadian stories of resilience, perseverance and bravery. They deserve to be heard because in their stories lie not only the history of our armed forces, but the very ethos of what it means to be Canadian. Willy MacDonald’s obvious courage and Pat Towers’ quiet leadership remind me, constantly, of the strength that lies within Canadians. Jeremy Leblanc and Ric Stacy, with their ongoing commitment, exemplify the enduring spirit of service that defines them, our armed forces and our country. None of them wear the Canadian Victoria Cross.

The Canadian Victoria Cross was created in 1993 to replace the British Victoria Cross. Our highest recognition for “Valour in the Face of the Enemy,” the Canadian VC was brought into being by then-prime minister Brian Mulroney, a leader who understood the power of pride in country. Twenty have been minted by the Royal Canadian Mint and are held at Rideau Hall. None have been awarded.

A few of us, in conjunction with the National Post, Historica Canada and supported by True Patriot Love, hope to change that. We want to tell the stories of those heroes who line every road we take. We will do so with stories in the National Post, online distribution with Historica Canada, and every other avenue available to tell their stories. Inspire Canadians, new and old, young and mature, Indigenous and the newest immigrants. Let them be inspired by the incredible examples of service to our nation, to our ideals and for causes that are worthy of risking — and sometimes losing — your life. By doing so, we not only pay tribute to their sacrifices but also reinforce the values that define us as a nation. Just maybe, from that, will come a demand to determine if one or more of those Canadians should be awarded that VC.

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These stories are not just about the past. They are about the present and the future. They are a reminder of the price of freedom and the enduring strength of the human spirit. We are reminded that even in the face of the greatest challenges, there are individuals among us who rise above, who put service before self and who, in doing so, inspire us all to be better Canadians.

To those who I have mentioned and so many more, I offer my deepest gratitude. Your courage, your sacrifice and your commitment to our nation inspires me every day. It is now our duty as Canadians to ensure your stories are told and that your service continues.

O Canada!

Gen. (ret’d) Rick Hillier was Canada’s chief of defence staff from 2005-2008.

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