Canadian legend presents sacrifice medal
By Lookout on Mar 03, 2014 with Comments 0
Honorary Colonel Rick Hansen presents the Sacrifice Medal to Cpl Darryl Hansen.
The room buzzed with excitement, admiration, and inspiration when Canadian legend Rick Hansen entered the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) Feb. 26.
Hansen, an Honorary Colonel for JPSU, stopped by the base during a visit to Victoria and made a few presentations.
“It’s an honour to be a part of this unit, and by extension a part of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Hansen, who inspired the world during his Man in Motion tour, which saw him cross 40,000 kilometres across 38 countries, raising money for spinal cord research and quality of life initiatives. “People like you are what inspired me to become who I am,” he said to the crowd.
HCol Hansen presented a medal to Cpl Darryl Hansen (no relation), who received the Sacrifice Medal for a deployment with the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) to Afghanistan in 2008. While there he sustained a traumatic brain injury when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
exploded.
“It was a real honour to have HCol Hansen present the medal to me. He’s an inspiration to Canadians everywhere,” said Cpl Hansen. “My time in Afghanistan was life changing in many ways, and it means a lot to have those experiences recognized.”
MCpl Brett Trimble was also called forward to receive his Canadian Forces decoration from HCol Hansen for 12 years service to the military.
He also presented a quilt from Quilts of Valour, a local organization that provides handmade quilts to military service people and community members going through hard times. One quilt was presented to Cpl Hansen, and another to Victoria local Beverly Hamilton.
“When you get down to it, organizations like the CAF are about helping people,” said Hansen. “Whether it’s helping their own recover from the effects of war or reaching out to the community and easing their burdens, that helping hand is always near and ready. I’m truly honoured to be a part of that effort.”
-Shawn O’Hara, Staff Writer
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