Mother of Greek-Canadian Hero Awarded National Silver Cross

Niki Psiharis, who lost her youngest son Sergeant Chris Karigiannis while he was serving in Afghanistan, was awarded the Silver Cross on November 11th, 2013.

Greek-Canadian Chris Karigiannis, was killed when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle approximately 40km west of Kandahar City, Afghanistan on 20 June 2007 – less than two months from his scheduled return home.

However, when she placed a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on November 11th, it wasn’t just her son she was honoring. Mrs Psiharis was chosen as the Silver Cross Mother to represent all Canadian mothers who have lost children in service to their country.

Mrs. Psiharis’ other sons Peter and Spiro were at the ceremony together with a large crowd of government officials and veterans who gathered under wet snow, to remember Canada’s fallen soldiers. Her spouse, Mr. Anastasios Karigiannis, passed away from cancer in 1990.

The National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother is chosen annually by The Royal Canadian Legion to represent the mothers of Canada at the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa.

The Memorial (Silver) Cross was instituted on December 1, 1919 and was issued as a memento of personal loss and sacrifices on behalf of all widows and mothers who lost a child while on active duty in the service of their nation or whose death was consequently attributed to such duty.

Mrs. Psiharis lives in Laval, Québec. She is the 6th mother from Québec to be named as the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother since the Legion began this tradition more than sixty years ago.

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