Port Hardy, British Columbia
Mr. Hemphill is a pilot and has been in the Civil Air Search and Rescue assisting the rescue squadron (442) in Comox, BC for many years. Together with the following three dedicated individuals: Major Russ Hellberg, Chief Warrant Officer Alan King, and Captain Lou Lepine all of whom are receiving the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation today, Mr. Hemphill has dedicated himself to honouring servicemen who have lost their lives on operations on North Vancouver Island by being the Cairn Designer of the stainless steel plaques which are etched with the names of lost airmen and are dedicated at the various crash sites. There have been five dedication ceremonies to date and a sixth will take place in 2010 for a plane that crashed on Northern Vancouver Island in 1945. In addition to designing each cairn, Mr. Hemphill has participated in memorial services along with next of kin, government officials and other dignitaries.