Medals NEWS 1/2009
Honours and Recognition Newsletter
Vol. 3 Issue 1, January 2009
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The Memorial Cross and new Memorials
Two years ago, new rules were implemented for the Memorial Cross:
- Effective 1 Jan 07, all service-related deaths are eligible, regardless of location;
- Three Crosses are granted instead of two; and
- Every CF member designates their Memorial Cross recipients by filling the DND 2105.
The Government of Canada has recently approved further changes to the Memorial Cross Regulations. By a decision of 12 Dec 08, the rules above are made retroactive to 7 Oct 01 in order for all service-related deaths since the beginning of the international campaign against terrorism to be treated in a similar fashion.
Those Affected
Two main groups will be affected:
- Deaths in Special Duty Areas (SDA) from 7 Oct 01 to 31 Dec 06 which only received one or two Crosses under the old rules will have a top up to a maximum of three; and
- Non SDA deaths from 7 Oct 01 to 31 Dec 06 which were not covered by the old rules will now be commemorated by the granting of three Crosses.
Because these fallen members never had a chance to designate recipients, the executor or administrator of the estate or the liquidator of the succession will be allowed to designate recipients in writing. Details of the requirements can be found at the references below. The Chain of command is encouraged to communicate with the affected families, gather the information and communicate it to DH&R. Units will also be requested to perform presentations.
The new Memorials
On this occasion, two
new
memorials are also launched:
the Memorial Scroll and the
Memorial Bar. The Scroll is
a modern version of the
Scroll which commemorated
the dead of the First World
War and is suitable for
framing. The Bar is a
tradition restored from the
Second World War and
consists of a small Sterling
Silver bar bearing the name
and date of death of the
fallen. It is meant to be
included in a shadow box
containing the medals or
other mementoes of the
deceased or to be affixed on
a picture frame. One of each
will be issued in memory of
every service-related death
since 7 Oct 01 and will be presented to the primary beneficiary of the
estate
(usually the person who inherits the medals). In the future, the
Scroll and Bar
will be presented to the recipient before the funeral while those for
past deaths
will be presented on the occasion of any additional Memorial
Cross
presentation as discussed above or with the Sacrifice Medal for those
eligible.
The First Scroll and Bar were presented on 18 January 2009 to Sandra
Good,
widow of Pte B.R. Good who was killed on 7 Jan 09.
These two elements and the changes to the Memorial Cross now make a
more
comprehensive recognition package by which Canada expresses its
sorrow
and sympathy to our bereaved families.
More details can be found in CANFORGEN 006/09 and on the DH&R web site.
Issued by the Directorate of Honours and Recognition
(DH&R) - 15 January 2009
Telephone : 1-877-741-8332
Website : www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhr-ddhr/index-eng.asp
