Meritorious Service Cross

• Awarded on: November 25, 2004
• Invested on: May 30, 2005

Vatché Arslanian, M.S.C., (posthumous), Oromocto, New Brunswick
Meritorious Service Cross (civil division)

In July 2001, Vatché Arslanian, senior logistician with the International Committee of the Red Cross, was assigned to war-torn Iraq to deliver urgently needed relief supplies such as food, water and medical equipment to hospitals and water-treatment plants throughout the country. A motivated and compassionate individual, Mr. Arslanian demonstrated great dedication to his mission by volunteering to remain in Iraq in spite of the conflict. On April 18, 2003, during the worst of the hostilities, he was killed in Baghdad while escorting Iraqi co-workers home, when the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in a crossfire.