National
Governor General To Honour Several Atlantic Canadians With Meritorious Service Decorations
By Office of The Governor General
May 26, 2005, 17:17

OTTAWA - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, will preside over a presentation ceremony of the Meritorious Service Decorations at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, on Monday, May 30, 2005 at 10:30 a.m.

The Meritorious Service Decorations are an important part of the Canadian Honours system. Like the Order of Canada, they recognize excellence. However, they honour either a single achievement or an activity over a shorter period of time, while the Order of Canada focuses on lifetime achievement.

The Governor General will present 3 Meritorious Service Crosses and 44 Meritorious Service Medals during the ceremony.

Honoures from Atlantic Canada are:


Vatche Arslanian, M.S.C., (posthumous)
Oromocto, New Brunswick
Meritorious Service Cross (civil division)
The decoration will be received by his mother, Mrs. Chake Hambrsomian

In July 2001, Vatche Arslanian, senior logistician with the International Committee of the Red Cross, was assigned to war-torn Iraq to deliver urgently needed relief supplies such as food, water and medical equipment to hospitals and water-treatment plants throughout the country. A motivated and compassionate individual, Mr. Arslanian demonstrated great dedication to his mission by volunteering to remain in Iraq in spite of the conflict. On April 18, 2003, during the worst of the hostilities, he was killed in Baghdad while escorting Iraqi co-workers home, when the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in a crossfire.


RCMP Constable Tony Jude Vienneau, M.S.C.
Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Meritorious Service Cross (civil division)

On December 4, 2002, Cst. Tony Vienneau went to the aid of a 15-year-old boy who was threatening to jump off the Perth-Andover Bridge, overlooking the St. John River, in New Brunswick. Cst. Vienneau was on his way home when he noticed the teenager standing without support on the railing of the bridge. The off-duty officer immediately climbed onto the rail and began walking behind him. After an hour of negotiating, Cst. Vienneau was able to prevent the boy from committing suicide, and convinced him to seek treatment at a local hospital.

Morgan Brown, M.S.M.
Summerford, Newfoundland and Labrador
Allan Roy LeDrew, M.S.M.
Comfort Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Captain Joseph Legge, M.S.M.
Kippens, Newfoundland and Labrador
Captain Chelsey Webb, M.S.M.
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador
Joseph Webb, M.S.M.
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador
Waylon Webb, M.S.M. (posthumous)
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
The decoration awarded to Waylon Webb will be received
by his spouse, Ms. Mary Dicker

On the evening of October 5, 2003, these six men were instrumental in the rescue of 13 fishermen from a burning ship, during a storm on the Atlantic Ocean, near Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador. Aboard the Viola Dee, Chelsey Webb, Joseph Webb and the late Waylon Webb headed first in the direction of the disabled vessel but soon realized that the condition of the sea was too treacherous to venture out farther. Despite the threatening conditions, they remained aboard their ship in the unsafe waters, in case the need for further assistance arose. Meanwhile, Messrs. Brown and LeDrew and Captain Legge, on board the Kaliutik, reached the flaming ship, some 45 nautical miles offshore, and over the next 10 hours towed it back to Nain Harbour.

Complete details can be found at http://www.gg.ca/menu_e.asp

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