BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum
BetterMost Community Blogs => Our Daily Thoughts - The BetterMost Community Blog Network => My "Great White North" => Topic started by: Sheriff Roland on July 13, 2009, 08:09:07 pm
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Only 24 British people at any given time are holders of the 'Merit', and of the not-British subjects, only 11 appointments have been made in the 107 years this award has been in existence - the last recipient being Nelson Mandala in 1995. Two of those other 11 non-British subjects were Canadians - Prime Ministers MacKenzie King (who was Prime Minister for 21 years, including the war years) and Lester Pearson (Noble peace prize recipient, and the Prime Minister in charge of a minority government in the 60's when our Flag was introduced and when universal health care became reality as well as the federal pension plan.)
Chrétien is in rarefied company indeed. Only 200 people have ever been named to the order, including Albert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill, Robert Baden-Powell and T.S. Elliot.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jxajiYVvGoV65yCk40RoIie8fxHQ
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A few corrections.
First, I'll add another well known recipient, that of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Next there have been 169 recipents in the 107 year history of the 'Merit' (not 200).
Also, there have been 3 (not 2) previous Canadian recipients. Dr. Penfield, a noted brain surgeon, ... the last Canadian to hold the honour ... died in 1976.
Finally, Christopher McCreery, an expert and author on Canadian decorations, said the Order of Merit is "the most senior honour a Canadian can receive." It is ahead even of the Order of Canada.
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(He also) said the Order of Merit is not a British honour. Rather, it is part of the Canadian honour system as the Queen presents it as the Queen of Canada.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/he-sang-he-swore-and-he-wooed-the-queen/article1217281/