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RCMP NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY AT BEECHWOOD

DEDICATION – INAUGURATION

2004

The following is the inscription on the plaque at the main entrance

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (RCMP) NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY

THIS PEACEFUL SITE IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR RCMP MEMBERS, RCMP PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO FAITHFULLY SERVED CANADA. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002 THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE OTTAWA DIVISION OF THE RCMP VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEECHWOOD CEMETERY FOUNDATION.  THE RCMP JOINED THE PARTNERSHIP IN 2004.  THE MEMORIAL MONUMENT HONOURS THE DEDICATION AND LOYAL SERVICES OF MEMBERS OF THE NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE, THE ROYAL NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE AND THE RCMP.  THE SUPPORT AND SACRIFICE OF THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

The Cemetery features a parade square, a statue on a monument dedicated to the memory of fallen officers and a beautiful granite memorial.

The concept of a veteran’s cemetery was inspired in 2000 by RCMP Veteran Bill Becker who posed the question to the RCMP Veterans’ Association (Ottawa Division) Executive Committee why the RCMP did not have a cemetery in Ottawa since the city is the home of the RCMP National Headquarters and, given the fact many serving and former members of the RCMP were located in Ottawa. Mr. Becker proposed Beechwood as the site of a veterans’ cemetery based on the historical significance of Beechwood that was founded in 1873 in the same year as the NWMP was formed in Canada. Several other veterans including Ray McFarland, Dave Lehman and Al Barkhouse formed a committee and did a tremendous amount of work together with James Patterson of the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation. Roy Burlinquette chaired the committee with able assistance of several others particularly Al Rivard.

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