Order of Military Merit is one of the military’s highest recognition.
Surrey: Lt. Col. Harjit Singh Sajjan was bestowed with Order of Military Merit by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada presided over an Order of Military Merit investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall, on Friday, June 20, 2014. The Governor General bestowed the honour on 3 Commanders, 13 Officers and 34 Members.
Created in 1972, the Order of Military Merit recognizes meritorious service and devotion to duty by members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Order honours them for their commitment to Canada, according to the following three levels of membership: Commander (C.M.M.), Officer (O.M.M.) and Member (M.M.M.).
Lt. Col. Harjit S Sajjan comes from a family that holds community service in highest regard. His grandfather and father have been involved in community service for many decades now.
His grandfather, Lambardar Fakir Singh was known in the region for his utmost devotion and diligent service that he performed at Ross Gurudwara for 15 long years. The commitment to perform untiring service to the community was passed on by Sardar Lambardar to his son Sardar Kundan Singh Sajjan, who has been active member of community and is currently serving as the President of Singh Sabha Gurudwara Sahib.
Lt.Col. Harjit S. Sajjan has very illustrious military service record. He joined as a Trooper in 1989 and was commissioned in the Regiment in 1991, Lt.Col. Harjit Singh was promoted in the ranks of Captain and Major in 1995 and 2005 respectively. He has served three deployments to Afghanistan as well as in Bosnia-Herzegovina (preciously Yugoslavia). Lieutenant-Colonel Harjit Singh’s most recent deployment to Afghanistan was in November 2010. In the course of his deployments Lieutenant-Colonel Harjit Singh has been awarded a Mentioned-in-Dispatches, Commander in Chief Commendation, two Chief of Defense Staff Commendations and a US Army Commendation. He is also the recipient of the Deputy Minister’s Award also known as National Defense Award. On 11 September 2011, in a historic ceremony a change of command took place in the British Columbia Regiment, Lt.Col. Harjit Singh Sajjan, became the first Sikh in Canada to take command of a British Columbia regiment.
