Susan Pike

The Royal Canadian Legion is honoured to present Mrs. Virginia Hicks, from the community of Frankford, Ontario, as this year’s National Silver Cross Mother. On November 11, she will place a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. “Her presence on behalf of all mothers is so incredibly meaningful,” says Sharon McKeown, Dominion President. “In sharing her daughter’s story, we are all reminded with deep gratitude, of the incredible sacrifice of those who give their lives in service to our country. We will remember her.” Mrs. Hicks’ daughter, Sapper Mariebeth Short served with 2 Combat Engineering Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ontario. Born on January 23, 1980, in Comox, British Columbia, she grew up in a family with a history of military service – including that of her mother. Mariebeth was killed on September 23, 2002, during a training exercise on the Matawa Plains in Petawawa. The exercise was a recap, a part of the overall intensive training the Sappers completed to learn everything possible about LAVs (light armoured vehicles). The vehicle she was traveling in that day rolled, and she did not survive. legion.ca/news/articles/2026…