Virginia Hicks named 2026 National Silver Cross Mother after daughter died in 2002 Petawawa training crash

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The Royal Canadian Legion says Virginia Hicks will place a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Nov. 11 as the 2026 National Silver Cross Mother, an annual tradition for Canadian mothers who have lost a child serving in the Canadian military.

The Legion says Hicks’ daughter, Mariebeth Short, died on Sept. 23, 2002 during a training exercise in Petawawa, Ont., when the light armoured vehicle she was training in rolled over.

The Legion says Hicks has a long history of military service and served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 29 years, working in supply and logistics.

This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony comes weeks after four Canadian soldiers were killed and dozens more were injured during a training exercise at CFB Wainwright in Alberta.

Sgt. Morgan Wong of Edmonton, Pte. Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Sask., Pte. Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark of Langley, B.C., were killed in a grass fire last month, after strong, sudden winds drove the fire toward 84 members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who were conducting two exercises in the training area about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is leading a full investigation into the incident with support from the RCMP.

Hicks said in a statement that mothers who have lost a child in military service share the same sorrow and bravery, adding: “We all share the same sorrow, we all share the same bravery, and same love and respect for our children as we do for any other child who has passed.”