"Stand to attention, you four brave young constables,
What shall justice now deal each of you?
Have you turned the other cheek while serving your
Master?
Or have you all been True Blue through and through?"
The first constable, with squared shoulders, said
"No sir, I guess I ain't,
because those of us who carry such weighty badges
can't always live life like our Saints.
The second confessed he'd worked most Sundays
and that at times his talk was quite rough,
but that to control such senseless violence,
sometimes words were simply just not enough
The third confessed he'd never took a penny,
that wasn't rightfully his to keep,
Though he'd worked so many hours of overtime
to cover family bills when they just got too steep.
The fourth constable stated he never passed a cry for
help
though inside he had occasionally shook with fear,
And once, he said quite meekly,
I've wept lonely in silence many tears.
The constables agreed together, that they were not
sure
if they deserved to rest with the best;
their life had been one of selfless serving;
and they were so used to receiving much less
But if there's a place for us here, said the four
humble Mounties,
it really need not be too grand,
we don't expect, nor have had too much,
so if there's no room, well, we all understand."
Then a silence fell throughout all of heaven
While the Saints nodded together as they stood,
over the souls of the four young slain Mounties,
awaiting final judgment from God Bad or Good?
"Stand at ease, you four brave young constables,
You have borne too many burdens so well,
Come walk a beat on Heaven's street;
For you've proven your metal in Hell
And to your brothers on Earth who are all now in
mourning,
the sad loss of four of Canada's best,
they'll one day stand here with you shoulder to
shoulder,
And as brothers in arms you will rest.
Detective Larry Wieda, Boulder Police, Colorado &
Constable Ian Barraclough, Vancouver Police, Canada
This message was edited Mar 22, 2005 9:34 PM
RCMP
Thank you for posting it......we really did need to acknowledge them.
This message was edited Mar 22, 2005 8:42 PM
This message was edited Mar 22, 2005 8:41 PM
This painting is dedicated to the 4 fallen members of the RCMP killed earlier this month. It is being displayed at HQ outside the OC's office. Later it will be transferred to an art gallery in Edmonton for three months.
Painted by Sylvia Pecota, Iliuat, Nunavit
This message was edited Mar 24, 2005 2:02 PM
This message was edited Mar 24, 2005 3:07 PM
The Yellow Stripe
(as told from a senior RCMP officer to a junior member)
A simple vertical yellow stripe
Is said, must be worn with pride
For all those who have come before you
For all those who have died
You will walk where others fear to tread
You will protect those in need
You will stand tall where others tremble
The fight, you will lead
To Queen and country you will swear
Your oath, loyal and true
To serve amongst the finest
Canada's family in blue
Proud to be Canadian
Shoulder to shoulder, thin blue line
Proud to make a difference
One person at a time
You will comfort a dying victim
Wipe away a child's tear
Console a grieving loved one
Ease the community's fear
Yes, you will arrest the bad guys
Get in a scrape or two
Stand up tall and dust off
That proud yellow stripe on blue
And if one day that yellow stripe
Should fall horizontal to the ground
Take heart young Mountie, you're not alone
Your friends, they are around
Your family in blue will carry you
They will see justice done
For you they will stand, as the saying goes
One for all and all for one
And if like the sun, that yellow stripe
Should fade when the day is done
A grieving nation will mourn the loss
Of another daughter or son
The flag will fly at half-mast
But we, we will stand tall
You did your duty, you made us proud
Above and beyond the call
A sea of red will stand in tribute
While the bagpipes play
To honor your life, cut short,
was lost, at the closing of the day
But for now, young Mountie
Stand firm. Stand fast. Stand true.
To protect and serve proudly
With that yellow stripe on blue.
This message was edited Mar 23, 2005 1:19 PM
ok now i'm bawling
That picture defies words, so heart wrenching. What a painting!
I got that photograph and another memorial slide show from friends through my e-mail. Very touching!
OFG, can you send me your slide show.? I'd like to see it.
G
I tried, Ginny. I really did. But there wasn't any way I could copy it or move it. The slide show was wonderfully done and to the fabulous singing of "To Where You Are", by Josh Groban. I wish there would have been a way to share it.
A tear and a heart-hurt for your brave young men. I will always remember my first sighting of a Mountie in his glorious red uniform, and how kind he was to have his picture taken with me. I also remember, with gratitude, how kind and sympathetic you Canadian friends were after our 911 tragedy.
What a proud and noble service....SALUTE!
Pati
Thanks Pati.
Ginny
Thanks for posting these poems and picture,
It was such a terrible thing to happen to these 4 young RCMP
Amen. What heroes all our police (and fire) members are. Hopefully we treat them as such when they are alive among us, aknowledging them before something tragic like this happens.
Pat
I just read the poems and saw the beautiful photo.
Thanks so much for posting the touching tributes to our four fallen heros.
May we never forget and may they rest in peace.
Solomon.
Another Poem
Inanda
Four Black Horses
Four black horses, without riders
Galloped the Alberta plain;
Sent from Depot
To bring the boys home again.
Four black horses with empty saddles
Racing the cold prairie sun;
Four black horses arrive at the farmyard;
As the last bullet leaves the gun.
Four black horses stand with heads bowed
Wait till the echoes subside;
Four black horses turn as they're mounted
Now their heads held high with pride.
Four mounted policemen take hold of the reins
Spur their mounts holding lances high;
Four black horses, red serge in the saddles
Disappear in the Alberta sky.
copyright J.S. McGregor
I'd be really grateful if anyone can find a way of sending that slideshow. I haven't seen it and would be very keen to. Thank you for the tributes; it means a lot to us to have the support of the public at times like this.
Kristina
(police officer, Ontario)
I'll do my best for you. I think everybody else that had it is at the RU. May need your email address if you could just dmail it to me. (Dave's Garden mail).