Local Retired Brigadier-General, Ron Button has won the prestigious Sovereign’s Medal, honouring his volunteer work with Air Cadets.

The Sovereign’s Medal recognizes volunteers for their remarkable acheivments and outstanding community service. Button spent 35 years in the RCAF ending his career in North Bay. Once he retired he helped create the Air Cadet Scholarship but it didn’t take off immediately. But between 1989 and 2006 it gave out over $1 million. Button says the values cadets learn in their time with the military branch is priceless.

“I had an honour of being an Air Cadet in the 40s and I still think what I learned then, helped me in my future.”

Button says the Sovereign’s Medal means the world to him but is more proud to have made the lives of the air cadets that much better.