New directive restricts when vets can dress in uniform
Posted June 20, 2013 7:36 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It wouldn’t be Remembrance Day without veterans marching and gathering to honour the memory of fallen comrades. But next November 11th, many of them might be in civilian dress.
A directive was sent out last week from the head of the Royal Canadian Navy restricting vets from appearing in uniform. It said no retired service member is to wear a uniform to ceremonial or other public functions without getting written permission first, and that permission can only come from the force’s top commander and only in exceptional circumstances.
That would effectively put many elderly vets in violation of military rules whenever they show up at anniversaries and memorials in their old military dress and people on the streets of Vancouver think it is ridiculous.
“I think they should be able to wear their uniforms. They are proud of what they did,” Alec tells News1130.
“They fought for our country, they should be able to wear them to special events,” adds Pushpa.
The rule previously existed but was rarely, if ever, was it strictly enforced. The new rule is apparently in response to a spat between serving and retired officers.
Postmedia News reports a number of retired admirals showed up to a recent event at the Canadian War Museum in formal dress without permission. Serving officers objected, sparking a heated email exchange and one veteran threatening to return his medals.
Requests to wear uniforms must now be sent to navy headquarters with enough time for approval to be issued. The directive states blanket requests for events won’t be considered except in exceptional circumstances.
