OTTAWA—On behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, Lieutenant-General Leslie, Chief of the Land Staff, awarded one Meritorious Service Decorations (Military Division) to a foreign person whose specific achievements have brought honour to Canada. Lieutenant-Colonel L. Lyndon Anderson, from the Australian Army, received the Meritorious Service Medal on Saturday April 25, 2009 at the annual Army Ball.
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson’s citation follows. For additional information on the Meritorious Service Decorations, see Annex A.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lyndon Anderson, M.S.M. (Australian Army)
Queensland and Brisbane, Australia
Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division)
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson displayed exceptional dedication to duty as the Australian defence adviser to Canada from December 2005 to September 2008. He has worked diligently to build close partnerships with Canadian Forces leaders. His untiring efforts have facilitated a strong operational relationship between the Australian Defence Force and the Canadian Forces, both in Canada and in Afghanistan.
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Media information
Annex A – MERITORIOUS SERVICE DECORATIONS
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.
The Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) recognizes a military deed or activity that has been performed in an outstandingly professional manner, according to a rare high standard that brings considerable benefit or great honour to the Canadian Forces.
The Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) recognizes a military deed or activity performed in a highly professional manner, according to a very high standard that brings benefit or honour to the Canadian Forces.
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.
