As a tribute to her late husband, Medrienn Ferris intends to participate in Charlottetown’s Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday by wearing the war veteran’s military medals.
But doing so could get her arrested. Under section 419 of the Criminal Code of Canada, it says that war medals can only be worn by veterans.
“Why is that against the law, to show respect and honour for my husband?” Ferris said.
Ferris’ husband Albert Ferris, nicknamed “the smiling Irishman,” served as a regimental sergeant-major with the Royal Canadian Regiment.
Ferris first considered wearing his medals a few years ago, but ultimately didn’t decide to go through with the idea until this year.
“This year I have to do it because I’m not getting any younger, and if I don’t do it this year, I may not get the opportunity to do it.”
While Ferris has received support from her children, she says some in the Royal Canadian Legion are concerned that allowing non-veterans to wear medals could lead to fraud. But she points out that in Britain and Australia, service medals can be worn by family members.
She plans to participate in Monday’s ceremony with her husband’s medals pinned to the right side of her jacket.
“You know, I’m wearing them because he was so proud of serving this country,” she said.
And she believes her husband would be proud of her decision to wear his medals.
“He would say, ‘there she goes,’” Ferris said with a chuckle.
With a report from CTV Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis
