Bruce Poulin Defends the Legion Pretend Medals!!

I thought it was worth re-running this blog from last year. It really shows the poor attitude of those at Dominion Command regarding wearing of medals. Its a crime for a blood relative to wear late loved ones medals, but its okay for associate members to adorn themselves with cheap and plentiful pretend legion medals. Its laughable that he cites if our young cadets and a few religious orders can wear medals it must be okay for associate members to wear medals.  In fact no other organization has or awards as many pretend medals as the Royal Canadian Legion. This is the oldest and was once the most revered Veteran Organization in the nation, why would veterans need these legion pretend medals?? The reason as I see it, its not about veterans, its the associate members who feel they deserve to look like real veterans. When they wear a chest full of right breast medals the average member of the public think they are actual veterans.

Here are two typical examples of associate members, (civilians) wearing more legion medals than the average WW2 veteran earned during the war????

 

 Reply From Bruce Poulin (condescending)

Thank you again for taking the time to write to the Legion’s Dominion Command with your questions regarding Legion medals worn exclusively on the right sight of their Legion uniform.  While our policy has been explained to you in the past by other Legion commands, I will join the ranks of those who have tried to explain our policy once more and hopefully address your concerns.

 First and foremost, I am sure you will agree, that the service and sacrifice of Canada’s Veterans is recognized, in part, through the medals they receive.  When someone dons a medal or other decoration that was never awarded to them, they degrade the honour and sacrifice of those rightly wearing the medals they received, and they are breaking the law. The Legion admonishes any act that disrespects Canada’s Veterans or ignores Canada’s current laws.

 As stated in the Legion Ritual, Awards and Protocol Manual, “it is an offence under Sections 419 A and B of the Criminal Code of Canada for anyone, other than the recipient, to wear a uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces or Service Insignia, such as medals, ribbons, badges, chevrons or other decoration. It is also an offence for anyone to wear any imitation of the above if it is likely to be mistaken for the said uniform, or service insignia, etc.”

 I am also at a loss to understand why you have singled out the Legion for its policies regarding the wearing of Legion medals when, in fact, other Veterans organizations including ANAVETS, AVA, Veterans UN NATO Canada, and Cadet organizations or civilian organizations such as the Order of St. George and the Order of St. Lazarus, to name only a few, all have medals that are not awarded by the government and, in many cases, may be purchased.

 Allow me to conclude by stating that Legion members take seriously the wearing of government sanctioned medals and abiding by Canadian laws.  If you seek to change the criminal code of Canada, may I suggest you direct your focus and energies towards the government of Canada and not the Legion.

Sincerely Bruce Poulin

Eric Ross CD commented on Explaining the wearing of Right Breast Medals. First allow me to explain, real medals earned in the service of ones country are worn on the LEFT, over the heart I … I think it would be great for my daughters to wear their great grandfather’s and grandfather’s medals on the right side during remembrance day ceremonies. What better way to be remembered! I would love to know that my granddaughter would someday be able to wear mine when I’m gone. God Bless and keeping

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