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2020 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother –
Debra Sullivan

National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother Debbie Sullivan.

(Photo: Royal Canadian Legion www.Legion.ca)

Debbie Sullivan grew up in the countryside near Saint John, New Brunswick. She had two energetic children and rewarding work as a crisis counsellor, a truck driver and service in the Canadian Army Reserve. 

As the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother, Mrs. Sullivan laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on 11 November 2020 on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a son or a daughter in the military either in action or in the course of his/her normal duty. Throughout the year she will also be called upon to perform other duties honouring the Fallen from all conflicts.

She lost her son, Lieutenant Chris Saunders, on October 6, 2004, while he served with the Navy.

As a young girl, Debbie was a member of the Westfield United Church and choir, Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT) and Sea Cadets. She graduated from Rothesay Regional High School and pursued legal secretarial studies at Compu College in Saint John. Her son Christopher, was born in 1972 and her daughter Melissa a few years later.

When her children were young, Debbie volunteered helping seniors run businesses, pay bills, and network to get the help they needed. Later as a crisis line counsellor and member of a multi-disciplinary task force on crisis intervention, she volunteered with the Rothesay Regional and Saint John Police Departments. Debbie served in the Army Reserves from 1990-1994 working on administration, logistics, and recruiting.

While in Halifax to receive the Silver Cross, Debbie met with her son’s former mates and peers who performed a special ceremony to make her an honourary submariner – a true thrill for her. “My husband and I know that with young men and women like them, we are in good shape for the future”.

List of National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mothers

(Information courtesy of the Royal Canadian Legion, Canadian War Museum and families of the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mothers)

2010 - Present
Year Name City/Town
2023 Mrs. Gloria Hooper St. Claude, Manitoba
2022 Mrs. Candy Greff Lacombe, Alberta
2021 Mrs. Josée Simard Les Mechins, Quebec
2020 Mrs. Debra Sullivan Saint John, New Brunswick
2019 Mrs. Reine Samson Dawe St-Prosper, Québec
2018 Mrs. Anita Cenerini Winnipeg, Manitoba
2017 Mrs. Diana Abel Brampton, Ontario
2016 Mrs. Colleen Fitzpatrick Prince George, British Columbia
2015 Mrs. Sheila Anderson Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
2014 Mrs. Gisèle Michaud Edmundston, New Brunswick
2013 Mrs. Niki Psiharis Laval, Quebec
2012 Mrs. Roxanne Priede Grand Forks, British Columbia
2011 Mrs. Patricia Braun Raymore, Saskatchewan
2010 Mrs. Mabel Girouard Bathurst, New Brunswick
1990 - 2009
Year Name City/Town
2009 Mrs. Della Marie Morley East Saint Paul, Manitoba
2008 Mrs. Avril Dianna Stachnik Waskatenau, Alberta
2007 Mrs. Wilhelmina Beerenfenger-Koehler Embrun, Ontario
2006 Mrs. Alice Murphy Conception Harbour, Newfoundland
2005 Mrs. Claire Léger Stittsville, Ontario
2004 Mrs. Agatha Dyer Montreal, Québec
2003 Mrs. Charlotte Lynn Smith Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
2002 Mrs. Doreen Coolen Hubbards, Nova Scotia
2001 Mrs. Ina Galvin Bolton centre, Québec
2000 Mrs. Carol Isfeld Courtenay, British Columbia
1999 Mrs. Loyola Helen Park London, Ontario
1998 Mrs. Anna Zuk (Prygroski) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1997 Mrs. Alice Taylor Ottawa, Ontario
1996 Mrs. Margaret Langille River John, Nova Scotia
1995 Mrs. Elsie Wells Edmonton, Alberta
1994 Mrs. Wilhelmina Baerr Yorkton, Saskatchewan
1993 Mrs. Isabella Hutchings St. John’s, Newfoundland
1992 Mrs. Ida Orser Hartland, New Brunswick
1991 Mrs. Alice Taylor Ottawa, Ontario
1990 Mrs. Elsie Pearce Trenton, Ontario
1970 - 1989
Year Name City/Town
1989 Mrs. Rachel Morin Rimouski, Quebec
1988 Mrs. Hazel Driscoll Halifax, Nova Scotia
1987 Mrs. Secondina Di Persio Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
1986 Mrs. Mabel Bateman Richmond Hill, Ontario
1985 Mrs. Rose Bernst Thunder Bay, Ontario
1984 Mrs. Olive (Rumball) Hunter Summerland, British Columbia
1983 Mrs. Constance Wylie Vancouver, British Columbia
1982 Mrs. Janet Fraser Debert, Nova Scotia
1981 Mrs. Isabel Harrison Bury, Quebec
1980 Mrs. Greta Steeves Elgin, Albert County, New Brunswick
1979 Mrs. Eliza Beatty Carlyle, Saskatchewan
1978 Mrs. Janet Cantley Montreal, Quebec
1977 Mrs. Mary Boutilier Niagara Falls, Ontario
1976 Mrs. Olive Rae (Jubb) Victoria, British Columbia
1975 Mrs. Alta Wilkinson Ottawa, Ontario
1974 Mrs. Annie Margaret Rudd Stettler, Alberta
1973 Mrs. Margaret Santo Bender, Saskatchewan
1972 Mrs. Mary Louise McLeod Neyaashiinigmiing, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
1971 Mrs. Mary Anderson Selkirk, Manitoba
1970 Mrs. Mary Josephine Meech North Sydney, Nova Scotia
1950 - 1969
Year Name City/Town
1969 Mrs. Wilhemina Gray Vancouver, British Columbia
1968 Mrs. Pearl Rich Vancouver, British Columbia
1967 Mrs. Elsie Adams St. Catharines, Ontario
1966 Mrs. Josephine Stephens Toronto, Ontario
1965 Mrs. Nora Wagner Teeterville, Ontario
1964 Mrs. Bernadette Rivait Windsor, Ontario
1963 Mrs. Mary E. Stodgell Norwood, Manitoba
1962 Mrs. Vitaline Lanteigne Caraquet, New Brunswick
1961 Mrs. Sylvia Kimmel Mission City, British Columbia
1960 Mrs. Julienne Cantin McCreary, Manitoba
1959 Mrs. Dagnie Asta Anderson Craigmyle, Alberta
1958 Mrs. Helen Forestell Coniston, Ontario
1957 Mrs. Zylpha MacFarlane Truro, Nova Scotia
1956 Mrs. Gertrude Edna Reynolds Chatham, Ontario
1955 Mrs. Regina Leboldus Vibank, Saskatchewan
1954 Mrs. Margaret Heeney Ottawa, Ontario
1953 Mrs. Mary Casey Ottawa, Ontario
1952 Mrs. Hannah McCann Ottawa, Ontario
1951 Mrs. Alice Rochon Ottawa, Ontario
1950 Mrs. Susan Beasley Ottawa, Ontario
1936 - 1949
Year Name City/Town
1949 Mrs. Aline D'Aoust Ottawa, Ontario
1948 Mrs. Catherine Helen MacDonald Ottawa, Ontario
1947 Mrs. Martha Labarge Ottawa, Ontario
1944 - 1946 Mrs. Jessie Isobel McCleery Ottawa, Ontario
1943 Mrs. Edith Louisa Coldrey Ottawa, Ontario
1942 Mrs. Sarah Wilkins Lamplough Ottawa, Ontario
1937 - 1941 Mrs. Catherine Lewis Ottawa, Ontario
1936 Mrs. Charlotte Susan Wood Winnipeg, Manitoba
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