A recent incident in Ottawa, which exposed another military poser, has stuck an emotive chord with Canadians coast to coast, particularly since the poser chose to appear at the National War Memorial, less than 75 metres from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the site of Cpl. Nathan CirilloB次元官网网址檚 murder.

However, one only has to attend services at a local cenotaph to find members of so-called veteranB次元官网网址檚 service organizations wearing self-awarded medals, unearned hazardous skill badges and bogus foreign insignia. Their selfish actions do nothing but insult the gallantry, dedication to duty, integrity, honesty and the sacrifices made by members of Canadian Armed Forces.

We remember the blood, sweat and tears that it took to earn a piece of metal attached to coloured ribbon, a strip of cloth or an embroidered badge, and that is why we get somewhat emotional about them.

Fakery is not flattery, itB次元官网网址檚 cold, calculated deception with the goal of having oneB次元官网网址檚 self-esteem issues assuaged by basking in the reflected glory of honourable men and women who have selflessly served this great country.

One must ask how many receptions honouring veterans have these fakers been invited to due to their B次元官网网址渟pecial status and position of honour B次元官网网址� within their respective groups?

How many have attended sporting events, battlefield pilgrimages, provincial or national conventions? How many of these fakers, embellishers and out-right fraud artists have received thanks for their service by an unsuspecting public?

If the answer is one, then even that is one too many.

As 18th-century British writer Samuel Johnson once said, B次元官网网址淓very man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier or not having been at sea.B次元官网网址�

Mike McBride

Colwood