News Release
Pictou Resident Receives Governor General’s Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation
October 23, 2010, Truro, NS – MWO (Ret) Rik Clark remembers the days in July 1992 when November Company 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment,1R22R Battle Group entered the airport in the besieged city of Sarajevo while under fire. Their mission to secure the airport to allow humanitarian relief flights to land with their valuable cargos of food and medical supplies.
Today Sgt Clark, now a commissionaire at the Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corporation, in nearby Pictou County, is being honoured with the Governor General’s Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation for his efforts during this very volatile situation.
The presentation is taking place place during a meeting of commissionaires in Truro on Saturday.
Col Barry Wark, Chair of the Board of Governors for Commissionaires Nova Scotia (CNS) said he “was personally humbled to have been asked to make this prestigious presentation to Sgt Clark. The Unit Commendation is awarded for an extraordinary deed or activity of a rare high standard in extremely hazardous circumstances in a theatre of operation.”
The official citation, which is being presented to Sgt Clark, explains that “while surrounded and being shot at by belligerent on all sides, the 1st R22eR Battle Group (BG) steadfastly executed its mission. As a result of their presence, the anti-aircraft weapons, howitzers and tanks stationed around the airport were soon forced to draw back. These efforts helped in large measure to establish the UN in the eyes of the community as a vital force for
World peace and security.”
Sgt Clark retired from the regular force in 1994 before the Commendation program was introduced. The original presentation to his group was made in 2004. Since that date those responsible for presenting the awards have made efforts to contact all those who had retired from that Unit to ensure that they are equally recognized for their contribution to the success of the mission.
“Our task was to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in and around Sarajevo each day, explained Sgt Clark. Each delivery was a roller coaster of feelings for each of us. From real fear because of the very tense situations we found ourselves in along the way to see the happiness on women and children faces when we arrived with food at each village.”
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For more information:
Patrick Brownlow
T 902 429 8101 E 250
pbrownlow@commissionaires.ns.ca
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