The Canadian peacekeepers who fought valiantly in the battle nicknamed "the forgotten firefight" were remembered with full honours yesterday.
The 900 Canadian soldiers who risked their lives at Medak in the former Yugoslavia received special awards from Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson.
"Defying intimidation and direct fire, you showed what it was to perform armed and determined peacekeeping," Ms. Clarkson told the 286 soldiers from across Canada who attended the ceremony.
The 2,000 observers in the stands of Winnipeg Arena stood in ovation as the soldiers paraded to stirring march music by the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Band and received the Commander-in-Chief's Unit Commendation for bravery.
They were honoured for saving hundreds of Serbian civilian lives from "ethnic cleansing" in southern Croatia in 1993.
The Canadian Forces endured 15 hours of heavy shelling and machine-gun fire to protect innocent Serbs. Four Canadians were wounded.
Although Medak was the most severe action in which Canadian troops have been involved since the Korean War, their exploits received little attention at home.
"The simple fact remains that very few of us as Canadians know what you did in 1993," Ms. Clarkson said. "Your actions were nothing less than heroic, and yet your country didn't recognize it at the time.
"Now I hope that the Canadian people will celebrate you for what you did, for what you represent, for how you have contributed to the pride we have in being Canadians."
Among the soldiers honoured was Master Warrant Officer Brian Boyd of Winnipeg.
"It feels great to be part of this," said MWO Boyd, who is with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles reservists.