For the first time, security service members who helped bring down the gunman on Parliament Hill on October 22, 2014 were publicly honoured at Rideau Hall.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston presented sixteen personnel with medals of bravery and stars of courage Monday morning.
"None of you asked to be decorated with stars of courage or medals of bravery. Indeed, being good Canadians, it probably makes you more than a little uncomfortable," says Johnston.
"Well, why then are we here? We're here because on a day of great tragedy and suffering you gave us something different. You reminded us that while human beings are indeed capable of doing the worst to each other, we're also capable of the best," he says.
Former Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers was among those honoured- he received a Star of Courage.
Const. Louis Letourneau, with the Parliamentary Protective Service, received a Star of Courage. He tracked the gunman down the Hall of Honour towards the Library of Parliament and fired at him 17 times. "I was right in the middle of the hall of honour. From the first shot to the last - I was there," he says. "I saw him- and I never kept my eyes of him until the end."
Constable Michelle Bergeron says the memories of that day are still vivid. "It's something that you live with every day. It’s something that you know you have done. Some members that we work with hopefully with never experienced anything like that. I have, so it is something that will be with me for the rest of my career."
Const. Curtis Barrett, who is being awarded a Star of Courage, was unable to attend the ceremony. He will receive the honour at a later date.
