The Star of Military Valour (French: Étoile de la vaillance militaire) is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award for military valour, and one of three honours for military valour gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council. Created in 1993, the medal is presented to both living and deceased members of the Canadian Forces deemed to have demonstrated "distinguished and valiant service in the presence of the enemy," and grants recipients the ability to use the post-nominal letters SMV or ÉVM.

History

On 2 February 1993, three decorations, including the Star of Military Valour, were created by Queen Elizabeth II as a family of Canadian military valour decorations. The first awarding of the star was by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, on 27 October 2006; only with Canada's participation in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan did there emerge, for the first time since 1993, circumstances wherein one could carry out actions deserving of the Star of Military Valour.

Eligibility and receipt

The star is awarded only to members of the Canadian Forces, or members of allied armed forces serving alongside the Canadian Forces, who have shown conspicuous acts of valour in the face of enemy hostility. Should a person meet these criteria, nominations are made through his or her chain of command to the Military Valour Decorations Advisory Committee—a part of the Chancellery of Honours at Government House—which then makes its recommendations to the Governor General of Canada, via the Chief of the Defence Staff. Once they have been decorated with the Star of Military Valour, recipients are granted the right to use the post-nominal letters SMV. The Star of Military Valour can be awarded posthumously, as well as multiple times.

Recipients

In chronological order, the recipients have been:

• Sergeant Patrick Tower SMV CD, awarded 25 October 2006
• Major William Hilton Fletcher SMV CD, awarded 18 December 2006
• Private Jess Randall Larochelle SMV, awarded 14 March 2007
• Corporal Sean Teal SMV, awarded 14 March 2007
• Major David Quick SMV, awarded 8 January 2008
• Sergeant William Kenneth MacDonald SMV CD, awarded 4 April 2008
• Master-Corporal J. Donovan Ball SMV, awarded 26 June 2008
• Captain Jonathan Snyder SMV, awarded posthumously 26 June 2008
• Warrant Officer David Shultz SMV, awarded 13 November 2009
• Master Corporal Jeremy Pinchin SMV, awarded 4 June 2010
• 3 unnamed members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, awarded 11 March 2011
• Captain Gabriel Chasse-Jean SMV CD, awarded 11 June 2011
• Master Warrant Officer Richard Stacey SMV CD, awarded 11 June 2011
• Corporal Jean-François Belzil SMV, awarded 18 September 2012
• Private Taumy St-Hilaire SMV, awarded 15 November 2012
• Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas Arthur Ratzlaff USN