VeteransPublished Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 11:11PM ESTLast updated Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 10:22AM EST1 comment
We see them every Nov. 11: A confetti of striking colours emblazoned across veterans' chests as we honour those who fought for Canada's freedom and the freedom of others.
From ‘freebies' shared with civilians to those awarded for having the courage to serve in the trenches, from honours for maintaining tenuous peace in war-torn regions to those for tours of duty in some of the world's most forbidding areas. They belong to Canada's warriors. To Canada's peacekeepers.
And they reveal the secrets of battles fought, of trials and tribulations persevered, of sacrifices made in the shaping of our nation and in helping it claim its spot on the world stage. Here are the tales behind the decorations.
Tom Hoppe, 43
Sergeant, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, Kingston
“I had no intention of getting medals. There are always trophy hunters, that's human nature. Maybe to some, a medal is a trophy. To me, it's not. I didn't say. ‘I'm going to be a hero.' There's something to do. You get it done.”
1. Meritorious Service Cross
“Bosnia, 1993. They called it a peacekeeping mission, but I totally disagree with that term. It was a full-out war. The term peacekeeping is a myth. … I worked in a patrol of eight guys. We were involved in a number of incidents, a number of firefights. The medal is just not for me, its for the eight guys, without whom I wouldn’t have been able to do what I had to do. It’s for leadership.”
2. Medal of Bravery
‘Three or four kids were under sniper fire [in Visoko, outside Sarajevo.] I went out with another guy and pulled them out. The Meritorious Service medal and Medal of Bravery were both given for the same tour. At that time – it’s since changed – that made me the most decorated Canadian soldier since Korea.”
3. Special Service Medal
“For serving in NATO in Germany. You get it for serving 30 days in theatre. I was there for five years.”
4. The Peacekeeping Service Medal
“Everybody got this. It’s for being on a peacekeeping tour. For peacekeeping anywhere in the world.
“Peacekeeping – this big myth that we go over and hand out flowers and build schools. That’s part of it, but you can’t do that until there’s peace. Peacekeeping is war. We put this perception in people’s minds that it’s safer.”
5. United Nations Peacekeeping Protection Force Medal
“This was specific for peacekeeping in Bosnia. Sarajevo was just blown to crap. I sat on a hill overlooking the old ski jump from the Olympics and parts of the city, watching it constantly shelled.”
6. The Canadian Forces Decoration
“This is for 12 years of good service. Nothing special. If you get some jail time, you’re not going to get it. I did my job.”
Andrew Bogle, 86
VeteransPublished Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 11:11PM ESTLast updated Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 10:22AM EST1 comment 
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