November 26, 2004 OTTAWA – On behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, Serge April, Canadian Ambassador to The Netherlands, presented today a Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) to Dutch citizen Jan H.A. Koorenhof. The Meritorious Service Medal was presented during a ceremony at the ambassador's residence in The Hague, The Netherlands. The appointment is in effect as of April 26, 2004. Meritorious Service Decorations may be awarded to both Canadians and non-Canadians. The following text is the official citation for Mr. Koorenhof: Jan H. A. Koorenhof, M.S.M., Apeldoorn, The Netherlands Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) Jan Koorenhof, a Dutch citizen, has been a key organizer of many special events for Canadian veterans in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. In 1996, he was appointed president of the National Canadian Liberation Monument Committee and became the driving force behind the creation of "The Man with Two Hats" statue, the national monument to the Canadian liberators. As a symbol of the historic bonds of friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, the statue was unveiled in Apeldoorn in May 2000, before thousands of Canadian veterans, marking the 55th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. For more information on Meritorious Service Decorations, please see attached annex or visit our web site at http://www.gg.ca/honours/msd_e.asp. -30- Media information Rideau Hall Press Office (613) 998-7280 or (613) 998-0287 www.gg.ca Canadian Embassy in The Netherlands David Gill (31-70) 311-1695 ANNEX: Background on Meritorious Service Decorations Meritorious Service Decorations are separated into military and civil divisions, with two levels in each category: a medal and a cross. The military division recognizes individuals for outstanding professionalism and for bringing honour to the Canadian Forces and to Canada. The civil division recognizes individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or an activity that has brought honour to their community or to Canada. These decorations are an important part of the Canadian Honours System and, like the Order of Canada, they recognize excellence. However, Meritorious Service Decorations honour either a single achievement or an activity over a specified period, while the Order of Canada focuses on lifetime achievement. 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.
