His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present 1 Star of Courage and 46 Medals of Bravery at a ceremony at Rideau Hall Friday

John Frederick Meredith, M.B. of Osoyoos received his medal for an incident state side.

On March 4, 2008, John Meredith rescued a man who was trapped inside a burning vehicle, near Laredo, Texas, U.S.A. After witnessing a tractor-trailer plunge off a bridge into a ravine, Mr. Meredith stopped his vehicle and ran to help. The driver had escaped the blazing cab and was trying to get to the passenger who remained trapped inside. With the help of another passer-by, Mr. Meredith struggled to pry open the mangled side door to pull the victim out. Despite the smoke and spreading flames, they finally succeeded, and carried the injured man away just as the cab became completely engulfed.

The Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972. They recognize people who risk their lives and choose to defy their own instinct of survival to try to save a loved one or a perfect stranger whose life is in immediate danger.

The Medal of Bravery recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.