Williams Lake and Alexis Creek joined communities across Canada Tuesday morning to honour the three fallen RCMP officers who were killed in the line of duty in Moncton, N.B. last Wednesday.
In Williams Lake, uniformed members from the RCMP, Search and Rescue, Conservation Officer Service, Probation Services, and the 150 Mile Volunteer and Williams Lake Fire Departments joined the parade, which departed from the RCMP detachment at 8:30 a.m. and proceeded to city hall.
Inside city hall, community members joined the uniformed personnel to watch the regimental funeral being televised from Moncton, with thousands of RCMP and other law enforcement officials from across Canada in attendance.
Cpl. Chris McGee of the Williams Lake RCMP detachment attended the funeral in Moncton.
“He trained David Joseph Ross, one of the boys who perished,” safer community co-ordinator Dave Dickson said.
The other fallen constables were Fabrice Georges Gevaudan and Douglas James Larche.
Mayor Kerry Cook told the crowd the deaths were a powerful reminder of the courage and willingness of people to risk their lives for others.
“Your work is very much appreciated,” Cook said.
Cariboo Bethel Church Pastor Jeremy Vogt described the morning as a difficult one.
“You are here to honour your fallen brothers,” he said. “They were targeted because they wear the same uniform as you.”
Meanwhile in Alexis Creek, Carli Newberry said students of the local school lead their community in a show of support for the RCMP by wearing red clothing and stencilling maple leafs on their faces.
She said the children created banners, signs and cards, which they proudly displayed as they marched down to the local detachment.
The signs said “RCMP are the best!” and “Thank you for your service.”
Upon reaching the detachment, grade 4 student Connor McGregor announced, “We’re here to share a moment of silence with you.”
Following the moment of silence, students hung their signs on the outside of the detachment for all the public to see.