The Memorial Cross (more often referred to as the Silver Cross) was first authorized on Dec. 1, 1919 as a memento of personal loss and sacrifice on the part of widows and mothers of Canadian sailors, aviators and soldiers who died for their country during the war.
Today, the National Silver Cross Mother is chosen by the Legion among nominations made by Legion Provincial Commands and individuals to represent the mothers of Canada at the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa. During her tenure, which starts on Nov. 1, the National Silver Cross Mother fulfills other official functions.
As the National Silver Cross Mother, Mrs. Gloria Hooper places a wreath at the National War Memorial on Nov. 11 on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a son or a daughter in the military service of Canada. Throughout the year until October, 2024, she will also be called upon to perform other duties honouring the Fallen from all conflicts.
Hooper lives in the small French town of St. Claude, Manitoba but was born and grew up on the family farm in Shell Valley, MB where her brother still lives.
She recalls a busy early life, especially as the oldest of four children. She often stepped in when her mom was helping her dad in the field and, “I was to look after the kids,” she recalls.
After her early years of school in nearby towns such as Inglis and Russell, she went to work as a telephone operator in Dauphin, MB with what was Manitoba Telecom Services at the time. She later took an interest in nursing and got her training in The Pas, MB at Keewatin Community College. After graduating, she worked locally at St. Anthony’s General Hospital.
Married to her husband Clinton Hooper - who held a variety of roles over the years, from working with Manitoba highways to working on a pipeline - they moved to Holland, MB and bought a restaurant and hotel. The place kept them busy, and she took a break from her medical career. They later sold the business, and she went back to nursing. Retiring after a back injury, she later helped in a group home for adults with disabilities and also did some cooking for seniors. In her spare time, she enjoyed crafts.
She raised two children, Christopher (Chris) and his younger sister Ashley.
She speaks about her late son Christopher Holopina with fondness in her voice and says that as a child, “it was a lot of fun with him, he was into anything, mischievous and everything.”
He made toy swords, played with army toys, and as the oldest grandchild, he spent a lot of time on the family farm. Later, he became interested in art and would draw for hours. His sister Ashley remembers him as a great artist.
“He would just take a piece of paper and draw,” she says, from knights and dragons to medieval images.
Described as a “big kid” himself, Chris was also known as a prankster, a trait Gloria was only too happy to foster. She recalls sending him some glow-in-the-dark clothing at Christmas time, and all the humour that followed among his comrades abroad. “Anything we could do for fun, we did it!” she laughs.
Gloria is looking forward to representing mothers across Canada who have lost a child to military service. Though she recognizes that “everybody has their own feelings,” and respects that the journey is different for each Silver Cross Mother, she would like to represent “just the feeling of having a child gone,” in a way that will help support others.
