Cheryl Porter of Virden, mother of soldier Christopher Porter, who served at CFB Shilo, received the prestigious Silver Cross from Colonel Robert Tesselaar, commander of the 3rd Canadian Division Support Group, during a private ceremony held at the base on October 30. (Photo: MCpl C. Moon/CFB Shilo)
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media
Well-known Westman mother Cheryl Porter was awarded the honourable Silver Cross Medal at CFB Shilo on Oct. 30.
The recognition was for her soldier son, Corporal Chris Porter, who gave his life willingly for his country and served in the Second Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry(2 PPCLI), Mrs. Porter told Shilo Stag News.
Corporal Chris Porter died in January 2021, after suffering for years with lasting battle wounds sustained from 2003 to 2005 while on a deployment in Bosnia, she said.
Porter, from Virden and the mother of Cpl. Chris Porter, who served at CFB Shilo, was presented with the prestigious Memorial Cross recognition by Colonel Robert Tesselaar, Commander 3rd Canadian Division Support Group, in a private ceremony at the Base.
“Today, [in] this ceremony, I wanted to include Shilo because this is where [Chris] wanted to be and couldn’t be anymore. This is a recognition for part of a life that he gave and wanted to give, as so many of our family members have done. This is a ceremony that is in recognition of his service.”
The dual-monikered Silver Cross/Memorial Cross medal is granted to loved ones of the fallen in recognition of their loss and sacrifice. Inducted in 1919, after the First World War, it was initially reserved for mothers and widows to commemorate those who died in the Great War.
She was also presented with the Memorial Ribbon, the Memorial Scroll, and the Memorial Bar. Her son’s name will also be written in the Seventh Book of Remembrance on display in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa. Also receiving commemorations were the soldier’s father, Allan Porter, and family members Kim Watters, Jason Porter, Jacob Porter, and Jennifer Purdy.
Porter said due to the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, there was no funeral service for her son at the time, so the commemorative presentation ceremony was significant to each member of his family, many of whom are currently in or have served in the military.
The soldier’s mom said she was surprised to receive notice of the commemorative awards four and a half years after her son died, and is heartfelt that his sacrifice was noticed.
“[When Veterans Affairs] reached out, it was like, Wow … they did notice him. For them to reach out and say, We’ve noticed, we acknowledge — it was amazing.”
While it is difficult to work in hypotheticals, she said she hopes Chris is looking down and saying, “Well done. They do recognize us.”
“He spent so many years, after the injury, trying to get his body back to where it was, because that’s all he wanted to do with his life, was for his country,” she said.
History:
The original Memorial cross was worn around the neck on a purple ribbon. Purple stood for suffering and mystery. Purple was the colour of the stained-glassmaker’s version of black, expressing negation, mourning, and death. The first crosses bore the royal cypher of King George V.
In 1940, during the Second World War, the recognition was instituted with the royal cypher of King George IV in the centre. Again, after the Korean War, dating from 1950 -1953, the medal experienced a resurgence,with the royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth following her ascension in 1952. It was common practice for mothers and widows to have the Cross privately mounted on a brooch by a jeweller.
The criteria for eligibility for the prestigious medal were reviewed in 2007. The parameters for qualification were expanded to all service-related deaths and allowed the member to choose up to three potential recipients regardless of family relationship or gender. Changes to the criteria ensured all deaths occurring since the start of the international campaign against terrorism would be considered in the same way. With the newly implemented standards, an increasing number of men are recipients of the Cross. The Cross was also approved for wear on the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) uniform for serving recipients.
Following the ascension of King Charles III, the royal cypher was modified and the pin was reset in 2024, making it more practical to wear on the CAF uniform and by people of any gender.
In the past, the Silver Cross was manufactured by several private jewellers. However, since 2008, the Memorial Crosses have been crafted by the Royal Canadian Mint from sterling silver and feature the soldier’s details engraved on the reverse.
Cheryl Porter stands alongside her family and CFB Shilo command staff, during the Silver Cross Commemorative Medal presentation on October 30 (Photo: MCpl Cassidy Moon/CFB Shilo)
Silver Cross medals, also known as Memorial Cross medals presented to Cheryl Porter on Oct. 30. (Photo : K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News)
Corporal Christopher Porter, willingly gave his life for his country and served in the 2nd Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), said Mrs. Cheryl Porter to Shilo Stag News, during the presentation of the Memorial Cross medal given to the mothers of fallen soldiers. Corp. Porter died in January 2021, after suffering for years from lasting war injuries sustained between 2003 and 2005 during a deployment to Bosnia, she said.
