March 23, 2007
OTTAWA General Rick J. Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, presented the Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) to Lieutenant-General Karl W. Eikenberry on behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, during a private ceremony held in Ottawa yesterday, on March 22, 2007.
The following text is the official citation for Lieutenant-General Eikenberry:
Lieutenant-General Karl W. Eikenberry, M.S.C.Tampa, United States of AmericaMeritorious Service Cross (Military Division)
As the commanding general, Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan, Lieutenant-General Eikenberry played a central role in Canada's success in the South of Afghanistan in 2006. He is an outstanding coalition builder, an exceptional commander and a strong supporter of Canada's foreign policy and military objectives in Afghanistan. His superb leadership was pivotal to the seamless transition to effective International Security Assistance Force command. He spearheaded the international reconstruction and stabilization effort, ensuring that Canada had the material and military support required to make a meaningful contribution to stability and democracy in Afghanistan. He brought great international credit to Canada and the Canadian Forces.
The Meritorious Service Decorations include a military division and a civil division, with two levels each: a medal and a cross. The military division recognizes individuals for their 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 brought honour to the community or to Canada.
These decorations are an important part of the Canadian honours system, which recognizes excellence. Meritorious Service Decorations honour either a single achievement or an activity over a specified period. 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 military candidates are recommended by 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.
For more information on the Meritorious Service Decorations, please visit our Web site at www.gg.ca.
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Media informationMarie-Paule ThornRideau Hall Press Office613‑993-2569
Media Liaison Office National Defence613‑996-2353613‑996-2354
