Message From Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Jul 05 (MARKET WIRE) --
My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I learned with renewed sadness of the
death of Master Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud, who passed away
following injuries incurred in Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Michaud, of the 2nd Batallion, Royal 22e Regiment, based
in Valcartier (Que.), was transferred to a hospital in the City of Quebec
on June 28, after having sustained serious injuries in the explosion of
an improvised explosive device, hidden by Talibans insurgents, while
conducting foot patrol on June 23.

Attacks in Afghanistan are constant and merciless. Our patrolling
soldiers and those assigned to demining the country are acutely aware of
this and yet go meet danger face to face every day. Their courage knows
no limit; they are totally focused on finding and neutralizing as many of
the deadly devices as possible, on insuring the security of the area, on
protecting civilians as much as is humanly possible. That is their first
and foremost mission.

Master Corporal Michaud is one of the courageous, and without a doubt,
generous soldier whose sense of duty and ability to keep going despite
all adversity command our admiration for the women and men serving in the
Canadian Forces. We imagine today the deep sadness of his parents, his
family, loved ones and friends who greeted him upon his arrival,
surrounding him with affection, sustaining day after day their collective
hope that he would recover from his injuries. We send them our most
sincere condolences.

Our thoughts also go to his peers who have lost another one of their
comrades-in-arms.

Michaelle Jean

Contacts:
Rideau Hall Press Office
Annabelle Cloutier
613-993-2569
www.gg,ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca

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