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Medals,
Decorations and Orders
The difference between
Medals, Decorations and Orders is subtle, yet distinct. Calgary
Highlanders have been rewarded for their service both while serving with
the Regiment directly, while attached to other units, and of course
after leaving the Regiment for other duties. One Calgary Highlander has
even reached the highest possible military rank in the land, that of
General, when A.J.G.D. DeChastelain was appointed Chief of the Defence
Staff, and in fact served for an unprecedented two terms of office.
The Canadian military
issued British awards almost exclusively up to 1967, when a Canadian
honours system was instituted to replace some of the former awards with
those of Canadian design.
Order: dating back
to ancient fraternal orders, membership in modern orders is usually
signified by insignia in the form of a distinctive medal and coloured
ribbon. Membership is often organized into classes. The most widely
recognized order in Canada is the appropriately named Order of Canada,
to which one may be named a Companion, Officer, or Member. The military
has its own order, the Order of Military Merit, to which several Calgary
Highlanders have been admitted. Before the reorganization of the
Canadian Honours system at the time of Unification of the Armed Forces
and the Centennial anniversary of Confederation, admission into British
Orders was not uncommon; before 1919 these sometimes carried with them
the additional benefits of knighthood. After 1919, Canadians have
generally been excluded from acceptance of British honours carrying with
them titles and rank.
Decoration: taking
the form of a medal and coloured ribbon, those designated as
"decorations" are generally awarded for either bravery or exceptional
merit, though some decorations (such as the Canadian Forces Decoration)
may be awarded for long service and/or good conduct. While taking the
form of a medal, certain
Medal: a metal
medallion with coloured ribbon, medals are struck for many purposes;
most commonly as insignia commemorating service in a particular theatre
or campaign. Commemorative medals are often routinely struck and awarded
according to varying criteria.
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