April 15, 2013
Ottawa – The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister for La Francophonie, and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today unveiled the new Bomber Command honour, in the form of a bar to be worn on the ribbon of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM), and announced that applications are now officially being accepted for this honour.
"Our Government announced its intention to create a Bomber Command honour, and we are now pleased to unveil this honour today," said Minister Blaney. "With this bar, our Government is honouring those Canadians who fought for peace, freedom and democracy through their service in Bomber Command, and in particular the approximately 10,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice."
"Fifty-thousand Canadians defended our commonwealth and our country’s freedoms and values by serving and sacrificing for the greater good through Bomber Command operations," said Minister MacKay. "Our Government, and Canadians across the country, are proud to extend our heartfelt gratitude by acknowledging their selfless efforts with the Bomber Command honour. Lest we forget."
The existing Order-in-Council governing the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal has been amended to include the eligibility criteria and the description of the new Bomber Command honour. All Canadian Veterans who were awarded the CVSM and served a minimum of one day with Bomber Command, regardless of rank or role, are eligible for this new bar. Loved ones of a deceased Canadian Bomber Command Veteran who hold the Veteran’s CVSM may also apply to receive this bar. Processing priority will be given to applications received from living Canadian Bomber Command Veterans or their surviving spouses.
"The Air Force Association thanks Minister Blaney and the Harper Government for their continued efforts to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of Bomber Command,” noted National President of the Air Force Association of Canada, Colonel (Ret) Terry Chester. “We see this as a significant and memorable step in the recognition of these unsung heroes."
The effort of the approximately 50,000 Canadians who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Bomber Command operations over occupied Europe was one of Canada’s most significant contributions during the Second World War. Some 55,000 Allied airmen would lose their lives in flying accidents, by enemy action in the skies over Europe, or in prisoner of war camps.
For more information on Canada’s role in Bomber Command, to apply online for the honour, or to download a hardcopy of the application form, please visit veterans.gc.ca.
2013 is the Year of the Korean War Veteran—Canada proudly remembers the heroes of the Korean War and their brave fight to uphold freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
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Janice Summerby
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Veterans Affairs Canada
Phone: 613-992-7468
Jean-Christophe de le Rue
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Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
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