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(This page is dedicated to Roy Berlinquette, Michel Pelletier & Suzanne Sarault for their dedication, commitment and efforts in having this come to fruition)
RCMP NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY AT BEECHWOOD
COMMEMORATIVE TORCH
23 SEPTEMBER 2017
” Some of you may recall that while I was posted in Montreal in the 1970’s, I had the privilege of being friends with the Montreal Canadiens. In those days, the Montreal Canadiens played hockey in what we lovingly called the “Cathedral of Hockey”, the FORUM.”
COMMEMORATIVE TORCH BY MICHEL PELLETIER
This had a profound effect on me. Hence when it came to the planning and development of the RCMP Veterans’ celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation, this was the nucleus of the idea for the “Memorial Flame Ceremony/Torch Relay” from the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill to the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery at Canada’s National Cemetery, Beechwood.
Many will recall this photo of Hockey Hall of Fame, Maurice “Rocket” Richard passing the “Torch” to Jean Beliveau who lit the fresh ice at the new Molson Centre in Montreal. Together with a great and good friend of the Force, Réjean Houle, past Stanley Cup winner, General Manager and President of the Montreal Canadiens Alumni, we were able to replicate the form of the torch. When Roy Berlinquette and I explained the scenario and plans to Réjean Houle, he actually offered to let us utilize their torch; however, we wanted to make our torch unique as well. Rejean referred us to the original artist who designed and built the torch.
The Concept:
The Commemorative Torch is made of Canadian Maple, stained the same colour as the RCMP riding boots (“high browns”). Engraved in the handle of the torch is the Ensign of each RCMP Division, representing members from sea to sea to sea. Around the collar of the torch are miniature replicas of each badge of the Northwest Mounted Police, the Royal North West Mounted Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We also wanted to encase an actual forage cap badge of the RCMP, however, Lise (Mrs. Doug) Ladouceur-Coates had a better idea! Chief Superintendent Doug Coates was one of the members who died in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti while serving in a United Nations Peacekeeping mission. Mrs. Ladouceur-Coates donated Doug’s Officer Ceremonial Belt, from which the badge was removed and embedded onto the bowl of the torch.
On September 23, 2017, the day of the Memorial Flame/Torch Relay during the Police Officers Memorial weekend, RCMP Veterans lit the Commemorative Torch at the Centennial Flame and passed the torch from one generation to the next … father to son, father to daughter, brother to brother, aunt to niece, professor to student, peer to peer, all Veterans and Serving Members, including members of the Veterans’ Wives Association, many who served as “The Second Man” while posted with their husbands on detachments throughout Canada.
The torch bearers stopped to pay their respects at the Police Memorial Tablets on Parliament Hill, proceeded to relay the torch from Parliament Hill to Canada’s National Cemetery at Beechwood and on to the RCMP National Memorial Cemetery where the Memorial Flame was lit to honour the memory and pay respect to our fallen comrades.
” Thank you to the many volunteers and participants; you made this a Proud Day! ”
Roy Berlinquette, Michel Pelletier, Suzanne Sarault