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A retired Canadian Armed Forces sergeant with a distinguished 29-year military career will be recognized at Valour High School’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Petawawa.
Sgt. Ralph Kendrick (ret.) will be this year’s veteran honouree at the November 11 ceremony, scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m.
The annual recognition program began in 2016, shortly after Valour High School opened, and celebrates veterans with ties to the Petawawa area. The first honouree was Second World War veteran Bruce Westgarth.
As part of the tradition, each veteran is recognized with a commemorative brick at the Juno Beach Memorial in France and receives a replica as a keepsake. A replica wooden brick, along with a photograph and brief biography, is also added to the school’s Wall of Remembrance.
The Rotary Club of Petawawa has sponsored the cost of the memorial brick and replicas for the past several years.
Kendrick was born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, in 1946 and enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in Halifax in 1964 at the age of 17. After completing basic training in Borden, he qualified as a vehicle technician.
During his military career, Kendrick served in Kingston, Germany, Gagetown and Petawawa, with postings to several units, including 2 Service Battalion, 1st Canadian Signals Regiment, The Canadian Guards and 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron.
His overseas deployments included Cairo, Egypt, in 1973 and a six-month posting to Honduras in 1990.
One of the most significant episodes of his career came in 1978, when he was part of a Canadian contingent from the 1st Canadian Signals Regiment deployed to Tyre, Lebanon, with the United Nations.
Kendrick was responsible for maintaining UN communications, as well as providing local defence and security.
In July of that year, then-Corporal Kendrick and two other Canadian soldiers were captured by members of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Faced with threats to their lives, Kendrick refused to surrender his vehicle or weapons and ultimately persuaded the group to release the three Canadians.
For his composure and presence of mind during the dangerous encounter, he received the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation.
Kendrick retired from the military in 1993 with the rank of sergeant after 29 years of service. He has lived in Petawawa ever since.
In an email outlining this year’s recognition, Petawawa Mayor Gary Serviss said Valour High School and the Rotary Club are proud to continue the tradition of honouring local veterans, recognizing their service and ensuring their legacies are remembered.
The program also provides students with an opportunity to learn about the experiences and sacrifices of Canadian Armed Forces members, helping keep their contributions alive for future generations.
(Steve Berard)