Canada says “Thank You !”
Friday, December 15, 2006

Cpl Jeff Bailey (second from left) and Pte Will Salikin (second from right) help the Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen Rick Hillier (right), in presenting the Pennant which accompanies the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation to the LRMC to Col Bryan Gamble.

LANDSTUHL, Germany – The Canadian Forces formally said "Thank You" to the US military medical system in Germany on December 6th during a ceremony in Landstuhl Germany. 

Chief of the Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, presented the U.S. Army's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) with the Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation, for the exceptional manner Canadian Forces personnel have been treated at the facility since they first engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan. General Hillier was assisted by Corporal Jeffrey (Jeff) Bailey and Private William (Will) Salikin, soldiers who were both treated at LRMC earlier this year after being injured in Afghanistan.

"The exemplary doctors, nurses and staff of this world-class medical facility have treated Canadian service personnel with extraordinary dignity and genuine compassion; they continue to care for them as their own, " said General Hillier.

"Canada bears witness to the extraordinary generosity of the American people, our friends, as manifested by those diligent individuals and teams at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. These selfless heroes constitute an operationally focused unit that is worthy of the highest form of lasting recognition of selfless devotion to coalition duty and honour," he said.

Colonel Bryan Gamble, US Army, Commander of LRMC, accepted the Commendation on behalf of all members of LRMC.

"We have had the honour and pleasure of treating our Canadian brothers and sisters in arms, giving them the same high level of care that we provide our own wounded sons and daughters. It's an extreme tribute and privilege to accept this award from the Canadian government, on behalf of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center," said Col Gamble.

MCpl Paul Franklin (left) and his wife Audra (centre) present a cheque for US $82,000 to Kathy Gregory, Manager of the Landstuhl Fisher House, to be used in the operation of the house.

Gen Hillier then presented the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service to the Landstuhl Fisher House for its support to the family members of the wounded Canadian soldiers who were staying at the House while their injured next-of-kin received treatment at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Gen Hillier was especially pleased to present this award as it is only the third time this particular award has been presented to an organization outside of Canada.

Before the ceremony ended Master Corporal Paul Franklin, a double amputee as a result of the same attack that injured Cpl Bailey and Pte Salikin, presented a charitable donation of US $ 82,000 to Landstuhl Fisher House. In making the donation he was joined by his wife Audra who had stayed at Fisher House while he was being treated. The Franklins raised the funds in Canada after their return.

Members of the Canadian Delegation to NATO in Brussels, Belgium, raised an additional US$ 9,000 and Canadians stationed at the Joint Force Command NATO headquarters at Brunssum, The Netherlands, raised another  US$ 1,300. This brings the total raised by Canadians – soldiers, their families and members of the public – donated to Landstuhl Fisher House to approximately US$ 121,200.

To date just over 100 Canadian Forces members deployed to Afghanistan have been treated at LRMC. It is a US Army 143-bed medical facility located near Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany.

The three soldiers assisting Gen Hillier with his presentations were all injured in the suicide bomber attack on January 15th, 2006, which claimed the life of Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry.

The wording of the Canadian Forces' Commendation:

The Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation is awarded to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for its exceptional treatment of the Canadian Forces' casualties suffered in the course of Operations ATHENA, ARGUS and ARCHER.  Since 2001, when Canada first engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan, scores of Canadian Forces' wounded, many very seriously so, have been treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.  The exemplary doctors, nurses and staff of this world-class medical facility have treated Canadian service personnel with extraordinary dignity and genuine compassion; caring for them as their own.
Canada bears witness to the extraordinary generosity of the American people, our friends, as manifested by those diligent individuals and teams at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.  These selfless heroes constitute an operationally focused unit that is worthy of the highest form of lasting recognition of selfless devotion to coalition duty and honour.

The wording of the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service:

The Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service is awarded to the Fisher House Landstuhl, Germany.
The Fisher House of Landstuhl, Germany is awarded the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service for outstanding support to Canadian Forces families.  Since the beginning of Canadian operations in Afghanistan, many seriously wounded Canadian Forces personnel have been treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.  For visiting family members who have traveled to Germany to be with their loved ones, the personnel of the Fisher House alleviated the families' numerous logistical challenges and provided an environment that offers all of the comforts of home. Most importantly, the personnel of the Fisher House provided a warm and welcoming environment, demonstrating great care and concern for our soldiers' families, and provided them with invaluable moral support.  By ensuring that our families' needs were met, the Fisher House Program permitted family members to concentrate on the welfare of their loved ones, the injured soldiers.  The services of the Fisher House have been instrumental to the well-being of families of Canadian Forces injured personnel, providing invaluable support in an exemplary manner.