March 9, 2009
OTTAWA—On behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, His Honour the Honourable John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, will present the Medal of Bravery to Mr. John “Jack” Eli Marsh Sr. on Tuesday March 10, 2009, at 10 a.m., in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972. The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
The following is Mr. Marsh’s citation:
John “Jack” Eli Marsh Sr., M.B., Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
John “Johnny” Morris Marsh Jr., M.B., Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Medal of Bravery
On December 5, 2005, Jack Marsh and his son, Johnny Marsh, rescued two fishermen brothers during a severe storm at Smith’s Sound, in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. The victims were bringing in their loaded boat when the craft began to sink. One brother swam some 30 metres through metre-high waves to reach the shore, but the other, wearing heavy rain gear, was unable to swim against the wind. Noticing the scene from their boat, the Marsh father-and-son team opened up the throttle and, seconds later, were just a few metres away from the victim in the water. In a joint effort, they managed to hoist the man aboard. They then manoeuvred their boat along the rocky coast until they reached the second man and picked him up. Despite the extra weight aboard their boat, and the strong wind and wave action, they reached the safety of the shore some 20 minutes later.
Mr. John M. Marsh Jr. received his Medal of Bravery at a ceremony which took place on February 29, 2008, at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa.
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Media interested in attending the event should contact the events manager at Government House in St. John's, NL (See contact information below)
Media Information
Yvonne Parsley, Events Manager
Government House
50 Military Road
St. John’s, NL A1C 5W4
Telephone: 709-729-4738
E-mail: yparsley@gov.nl.ca
Marie-Paule Thorn
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-993-2569
www.gg.ca/www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
