Veteran's widow will defy law and wear war medals
CBC News | Posted: November 8, 2013 11:16 AM | Last Updated: November 9, 2013
Royal Canadian Legion says law should be followed
A Charlottetown woman intends to break the law to honour her late husband this Remembrance Day, and wear his war medals.
Madrien Ferris says she will wear her husband Albert Ferris's medals at Monday's Remembrance Day ceremony. Albert Ferris died in 1995, and the Criminal Code of Canada says no one except the veteran can wear war medals.
Ferris believes that law isn't right. As veterans die, she said, there are fewer and fewer medals at Remembrance Day ceremonies.
"I can't understand why we can't as relatives, next of kin, wear these medals. Show them, display them, let the sun shine on them," said Ferris.
"I thought, 'OK, put your money where your mouth is.' So I'm going to do it."
Ferris's late husband served 30 years in the Armed Forces, earning 10 medals. Since his death, the medals have been in storage.
The Royal Canadian Legion did not want to comment, saying only that it believes the law should be followed.
The Legion has said in the past it does not want the law to be changed, and that it was put in place to protect veterans.
In Britain and Australia, military medals can be worn on the right side by family members of veterans.
For mobile device users: Should the relatives of veterans who have died be allowed to wear their medals in their honour?