Meritorious Service Decorations

[FiveParadox]

Today, two Meritorious Service Decorations (Military Division) were announced by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. The Military Division of the award is designated for those who demonstrate extraordinary professionalism, bringing honour to the Canadian Forces.

The recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) is to be Master Seaman Marc Miller, M.S.C., C.D.; on October 5, 2004, the H.M.C.S. Chicoutimi was struck with a major fire. MS Miller was a key player in preventing further damage to the submarine, assisting incapacitated crewmembers in getting to safety, and taking the initiative to combat and extinguish as much of the fire as possible.

Petty Officer 1st Class Aubrey Rice, M.S.M., C.D., is awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) for her amazing role in the disaster aboard the Chicoutimi. Despite the fact that the entire vessel lost power during the ordeal, her technical knowledge and prowess enabled her to start one of the diesel engines manually in order to provide the submarine with much-needed ventilation, and kept it running for 145 consecutive hours thereafter.

Governor General of Canada[/color]]These decorations are an important part of the Canadian Honours System, which recognizes excellence. Meritorious Service Decorations honour either a single achievement or an activity over a specified period.

The Meritorious Service Decorations are open to both Canadians and non-Canadians. Anyone may nominate an individual for the Civil Division of the Meritorious Service Decorations, while a commanding officer recommends possible candidates to a military advisory committee, which reviews nominations and submits names to the Chief of the Defence Staff. Nominations and awards may be made posthumously, but nominations for activities that occurred prior to June 1984, the year in which the honour was first created, are not accepted.

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We should be proud to have such dedicated, resourceful and skilled men and women working for the Canadian Forces. The conduct of MS Miller and PO1 Rice was outstanding, and should be wholeheartedly applauded by Canadians across this country — and in fact, that applause should be extended to each and every member of the Canadian Forces, for their service and dedication during times of such a trying nature abroad.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Governor General of Canada.