Canada unveils own Victoria Cross

OTTAWA, May 16 (UPI) -- Canada now has its own version of Britain's Victoria Cross military medal to award to its outstanding military officials, officials say.

Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean unveiled the new Canadian military honor on Friday, saying its final appearance was the end result of a lengthy government discussion of how to best honor members of the country's armed forces, the Canwest News Service said.

"The cross is simple enough in appearance but is the result of much reflection, research, historiography, attention to detail and collaboration," Jean said.

Initially created by Britain's Queen Victoria in 1856, the Victoria Cross has been awarded 1,353 times. But only 94 Canadian soldiers have received the prestigious honor, the news service said.

Military historian Jack Granatstein told Canwest by creating its own Cross, Canada was now responsible for honoring its own troops.

"It takes the last of the military honors that we offer out of British hands," Granatstein said. "The difference now is that the Victoria Cross would be minted for the Canadian government and given out wholly by the Canadian government."

The (Toronto) Globe and Mail said the new medal will contain metal from the original Victoria Cross, along with metal from each of Canada's regions.