Delta, British Columbia
After being nominated, Mr. Darrel Harris passed away in August 2014. A Veteran of the Second World War, Mr. Harris spent over 70 years dedicating his time to fellow Veterans, Cadets and currently serving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel. After having witnessed a horrific parachute tragedy that took the life of his Commanding Officer during the war, Mr. Harris sought to honour the memory of this soldier by having a military parachute drop zone in Shilo, Manitoba. Mr. Harris was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) for more than 66 years and filled numerous volunteer roles, including: Building Chairman, Finance Chairman, and Branch President. After that Legion Branch was destroyed by fire, Mr. Harris played a pivotal role in the construction of a new Branch. He was awarded Life membership in 1995. Mr. Harris also volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and served as Chairman of the organization and mentor to the Cadets. Mr. Harris was one of the few surviving members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and worked closely with the Canadian Airborne Association to keep their legacy alive.