Home and Native Land - Burial
Aug. 6th, 2009 07:25 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Alpha Flight attends the funeral.
It was a fine, misty rain that blanketed the procession up the winding hilly roadway into the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces. The way was lined by units at attention with carbines, holding stiff salutes as each of the caskets went by, carried on the shoulders of fellow soldiers. Each unit was separated by an RCMP officer on horseback, their red serge a contrast to the green of the Canadian dress uniforms, and one of the caskets was bourne to the field by more of the red-coated Mounties.
Each finally reached the apex of the hill, as was settled into place beside the site that each would finally rest. On one of the caskets, a Stetson sat atop a coiled Sam Browne belt. In a rough semi-circle behind the graves, an honour guard of RCMP officers stood with flags held at three quarter rest, dipping to acknowledge the loss suffered by the country as a whole.
Two columns of seats held dignitaries and family; fortunately more of the latter than the former. While every politician had expressed their grief over the tragedy, only a handful had been allowed into the funeral. Instead, family mixed with fellow officers and co-workers to see the final stage in which their bodies would be put to rest. Malcolm Colcord and Minister Robert MacDonald sat beside the Prime Minister of Canada, each of them seemingly immobilized in the misting rain.
In the next column, the current and former members of Alpha Flight sat, behind the families of the lost. While each of their expressions were different, the unity of grief held them in a single tableau. The only one missing from the group was Kane, who stood in full uniform bearing a flag with his other officers.
The pipes of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment skirled into the field, and the final notes died away as the final rites were begun for the fallen. Brigadier General David Kettle stepped up to the small space in front of the caskets, clearing his throat. The normally genial Chaplain General of the Canadian Forces was somber today, and he regarded the crowd for a long moment before speaking.
"We come today to honour our fallen colleagues to their final resting place. This tragic accident has taken away five men and women of great faith, and it is only proper that we mourn their passing. I don't speak of faith of any one religion or creator, but instead faith in its most basic meaning; the belief in something greater than ones' self, and the willingness to dedicate ones life to serving it."
He spread his hands wide, as if to sweep up all of the crowd in with his gesture. "Service is the greatest and the hardest of all paths one can walk in life. For them, it was individual reasons that led them to pledge their loyalty, dedication, and yes, faith in service to the nation of Canada and her people. To serve as a shield against aggression. A light against injustice. A voice against oppression."
Kettle dropped his arms, clasping his hands together. "They are not the first soldiers or police officers fallen in service for the Canadian people, and sadly, they will not be the last. But in their service, their willing duty to something greater, they too shall be greater, even in passing. We shall not forget their sacrifice. We shall not falter in taking up their place. Now, they have become part of that faith that they served, and we shall not fail in our duty to them."
"Let us pray."
Alpha Flight attends the funeral.
It was a fine, misty rain that blanketed the procession up the winding hilly roadway into the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces. The way was lined by units at attention with carbines, holding stiff salutes as each of the caskets went by, carried on the shoulders of fellow soldiers. Each unit was separated by an RCMP officer on horseback, their red serge a contrast to the green of the Canadian dress uniforms, and one of the caskets was bourne to the field by more of the red-coated Mounties.
Each finally reached the apex of the hill, as was settled into place beside the site that each would finally rest. On one of the caskets, a Stetson sat atop a coiled Sam Browne belt. In a rough semi-circle behind the graves, an honour guard of RCMP officers stood with flags held at three quarter rest, dipping to acknowledge the loss suffered by the country as a whole.
Two columns of seats held dignitaries and family; fortunately more of the latter than the former. While every politician had expressed their grief over the tragedy, only a handful had been allowed into the funeral. Instead, family mixed with fellow officers and co-workers to see the final stage in which their bodies would be put to rest. Malcolm Colcord and Minister Robert MacDonald sat beside the Prime Minister of Canada, each of them seemingly immobilized in the misting rain.
In the next column, the current and former members of Alpha Flight sat, behind the families of the lost. While each of their expressions were different, the unity of grief held them in a single tableau. The only one missing from the group was Kane, who stood in full uniform bearing a flag with his other officers.
The pipes of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment skirled into the field, and the final notes died away as the final rites were begun for the fallen. Brigadier General David Kettle stepped up to the small space in front of the caskets, clearing his throat. The normally genial Chaplain General of the Canadian Forces was somber today, and he regarded the crowd for a long moment before speaking.
"We come today to honour our fallen colleagues to their final resting place. This tragic accident has taken away five men and women of great faith, and it is only proper that we mourn their passing. I don't speak of faith of any one religion or creator, but instead faith in its most basic meaning; the belief in something greater than ones' self, and the willingness to dedicate ones life to serving it."
He spread his hands wide, as if to sweep up all of the crowd in with his gesture. "Service is the greatest and the hardest of all paths one can walk in life. For them, it was individual reasons that led them to pledge their loyalty, dedication, and yes, faith in service to the nation of Canada and her people. To serve as a shield against aggression. A light against injustice. A voice against oppression."
Kettle dropped his arms, clasping his hands together. "They are not the first soldiers or police officers fallen in service for the Canadian people, and sadly, they will not be the last. But in their service, their willing duty to something greater, they too shall be greater, even in passing. We shall not forget their sacrifice. We shall not falter in taking up their place. Now, they have become part of that faith that they served, and we shall not fail in our duty to them."
"Let us pray."
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