Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 14, 2012
• Invested on: February 08, 2013

Judith Gayle Barker, M.B.
Cynthia Louise Riediger, M.B. (posthumous)
Medal of Bravery

On August 23, 2010, Gayle Barker and Cynthia Riediger rescued Mrs. Barker's husband from a possible drowning, in Lake Erie, Ontario. The two families were spending the day at the beach when the victim, who was swimming in to shore, began to show signs of distress. The two women grabbed an inflatable pool lounger and swam out through the rough waters to the exhausted man. They got him to hold on to the inflatable device and then started back, fighting against the waves. When they were nearly there, Mrs. Barker looked behind her and noticed that Ms. Riediger had fallen behind. While Mrs. Barker was able to bring her husband safely onto the beach, sadly, Ms. Riediger disappeared beneath the surface and drowned.