Members of the RCMP marked a milestone on Saturday.
Dozens gathered for the ten-year anniversary of the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery, which is housed within Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery.
“It’s a sacred place for us as members of the RCMP and our families, who will eventually be entered here,” said Retired RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bernie Corrigan.
The site was dedicated as the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery in 2004.
It is open to retired and current members of the RCMP, civilian members, special constables and members of their families, and civil servants who have at least 20 years of un-interrupted service with the RCMP.
“We do have I think this heartfelt belief as regiment as family, so this is an extension of that,” said Retired RCMP Assistant Commissioner Graham Muir.
Muir and his father bother served with the RCMP for 36 years.
His father was buried at the RCMP Cemetery when he passed away three years ago.
Since it opened in 2004, about 175 people have been buried at the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery.
“We call ourselves a family, and we're a very close knit community,” said Corrigan. “It's nice to know we have a place of rest, that final rest, when the time comes, and we can join our comrades again.”
