Pro Patria

Slain soldier's husband to receive Memorial Cross

Updated Fri. May. 19 2006 11:46 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Jason Beam, the husband of Capt. Nichola Goddard who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this week, will be awarded the Memorial Cross, defence officials confirmed Friday.

A statement issued by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor's office said an order-in-council has been issued, allowing granting of the medal to Beam.

More commonly known as the Silver Cross, the medal is traditionally awarded to mothers and wives of fallen Canadian soldiers.

Ottawa is now reviewing whether it should also be issued to husbands and fathers in other cases.

"We take great pride and honour in recognizing the ultimate sacrifice of the brave men and women of our armed forces," reads the statement.

The medal is a silver cross suspended by a purple ribbon embossed with a crown, maple leaf and laurel wreath inscribed with the soldier's name, number and rank.

The federal rules -- which haven't been changed since 1966 -- are in the process of being updated, but the official confirmed Beam will receive the award before the process is completed.

The medal was put into place in 1919, and is awarded in recognition of the sacrifice made by soldiers' families.

Liberal veterans' critic Robert Thibault said he was "encouraged" by news that the medal would be awarded to a Beam.

"I think we've got to recognize that there are more and more women choosing careers in the military and the risk of losses such as Nichola Goddard's increases, and there are also split families where the father and the mother of military personnel might not be together," Thibault said Friday on CTV's Mike Duffy Live.

"And that has to be recognized and honoured."

Each year the Royal Canadian Legion chooses one mother to be the National Silver Cross mother. The recipient takes part in Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial on behalf of mothers who have lost children in military service.

Claire Leger, mother of Sgt. Marc Leger who was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan in 2002, was chosen for the honour last year.

In 2004, NDP MP Peter Stoffer introduced a bill in the House of Commons asking that the medal be awarded "as a memento of personal loss and sacrifice to each surviving parent, spouse or common-law partner of any member who has died as a result of serving their country."

With a report from The Canadian Press