by Captain Nicole Meszaros, 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer
Cool spring winds blew across the 8 Wing airfield late Saturday night as the CC-150 Polaris carrying the remains of Captain Nichola Goddard taxied into position on the East Ramp.
A well-rehearsed repatriation ceremony in honour of the artillery officer was carried out at the tip of the starboard wing in sombre tradition as the 8 Wing Pipe-Major, Warrant Officer J.H. MacIntyre, played the lament, “Flowers of the Forest.”
Mr. Jason Beam, Captain Goddard’s widower, walked onto the tarmac with her parents, sisters and other family members who attended the ceremony. Many family members carried pink flowers, which they placed on the flag covered casket after it was lifted by the pallbearers into the hearse.
The Honourable Gordon O’Connor, Minister of National Defence; General R.J. Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General J.H.P.M. Caron, Chief of the Land Staff; and Lieutenant-General J.C.M. Gauthier, Commander Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command, among others, were on the airfield for the repatriation ceremony. Approximately 50 members of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, including Colonel Tom Lawson, Commander, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, and Chief Warrant Officer L.D. Cheverie, Wing Chief Warrant Officer, also paid final respects to Captain Goddard that evening.
The Canadian soldier was killed on May 17 during a firefight with insurgents that occurred approximately 24 kilometres west of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Captain Goddard was stationed with the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo, but was serving with Task Force Afghanistan as part of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) Battle Group when she was killed.
Two days after her death the Minister of National Defence announced that the Memorial Cross would be awarded to Mr. Beam. “The Memorial Cross is Canada’s way of showing our profound gratitude to the loved ones of those who die in the defence of this country,” Minister O’Connor said in a released statement.
Traditionally the Memorial Cross, a token of loss and sacrifice given by a grateful Government of Canada, is presented only to the mothers and widows of those killed in action. Minister O’Connor also announced a general review of policy regarding how the medal is issued.
“Obviously, Canadian society has changed since the Cross was instituted in 1919. We will be examining how to modernize the criteria outlining who is eligible for this great honour,” he said.
Staff from the Directorate of History and Heritage have confirmed that Captain Goddard was the first woman to be killed in combat.
