Quote:
John Cotter
Canadian Press
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
It will be the largest memorial service ever held for Mounties killed in the line of duty -- a ceremony that will begin with a parade of scarlet and feature four brown Stetsons on four black pillows.
More than 10,000 officers from as far away as New York and Newfoundland and Labrador were streaming into the city Wednesday to prepare for Thursday's national memorial to four Mounties killed last week near Mayerthorpe, Alta.
The massive show of support by people who never met the victims was already helping some RCMP officers deal with the loss of their comrades.
"It is overwhelming. It is like being supported by your own family," said a veteran Mountie taking part in the preparations who declined to be named.
"When you get support and people try to do what they can to make you feel better and to indicate that they are on your side, it really helps."
Along with police, thousands of mourners -- including dignitaries such as Gov. Gen Adrienne Clarkson and Prime Minister Paul Martin -- are to attend the service, which is to be broadcast nationally from the University of Alberta Butterdome.
The families of constables Peter Schiemann, 25, Lionide Johnston, 32, Anthony Gordon, 28, and Brock Myrol, 29, will be the focus of the memorial, which is to include honour guards, a minute of silence, a choir, and the playing of the Last Post by an RCMP bugler.
The ceremony is to begin with scarlet-clad Mounties on horseback leading a parade of 5,000 police officers on a kilometre-long march from a city park to the facility.
This event happened an hour away from my city. It happened by a drug-team, which had several officers searching a could-be drug spot. Which was a drug barn. The shooter shot the officers, and then turned the gun on himself. I just hope this doesn't happen again.
