Virginia Hicks selected 2026 National Silver Cross Mother

Virginia Hicks, a resident of Frankford, Ontario, has been appointed as the National Silver Cross Mother for 2026 by the Royal Canadian Legion. The honour recognises Hicks' military service, which spanned nearly three decades in the Royal Canadian Air Force, focusing on supply and logistics. Her career took her to conflict zones including the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Italy.

Following her retirement in 2008, Hicks became a full-time reservist and served in this capacity in 2017. The role of National Silver Cross Mother will see her place a wreath at Ottawa's National War Memorial on November 11, in memory of Canadian mothers and families who have lost a child in military service. This year, her appointment takes on added significance in the context of the recent tragedy at CFB Wainwright in Alberta, where a military personnel fatality occurred.

Hicks' own daughter, Sapper Mariebeth Short, lost her life in 2002 during a training exercise in Petawawa. The accident, involving a light armoured vehicle, was attributed to a defect in the wheel assembly according to an investigation. Hicks recounted the moment she received the devastating news from military officials, describing her initial shock and disbelief. Her daughter, Brian, was so grief-stricken that he could hardly speak, and Hicks knew then that her daughter had lost her young life.

Initially presented with the Silver Cross in 2009 following her daughter's death, Hicks was unaware that the award was bestowed upon all Canadians who have lost a child while serving in the country's armed forces, not just those who died in combat. She expressed her desire to educate others about the significance of this honour during her tenure as Canada's National Silver Cross Mother.