September 27, 2026, will mark the 28th year of the Canadian National Police and Peace Officers Memorial Day since it was proclaimed on September 24th, 1998. Since then, it has always been held on the last weekend of September. It will be attended by police and peace officers across this country to honor those of them that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their communities and their country. My sister and her husband, Heather and Ron Northrup will be in attendance with their son, Brock and his family. Their son, Devon, a constable with the South Simcoe Police Service and fellow officer, Morgan Russel were shot while attending a call in Innisfil, Ontario on October 11, 2022.  They were two of eleven police officers who died in the execution of their duties during that same year.

Whenever I attend a solemn occasion such as this, there is always some little thing that stands out to me. It sticks with me and I find I must write about it. The following poem, I wrote after I attended the services in 2023. The young girl in the photo is my great niece and daughter of Brock and his wife, Elise.

The late September winds

Softened the warmth of the

Sun as we sat on folded chairs

The Peace Tower overlooking us

Uniformed police and peace officers

Hundreds of them followed

The marching band on the grass

Until they all stood at attention

Silently behind us

The wind died and the flags

Clung to the poles as if

Sensing the importance

Of this moment

Visitors stood outside the fence

Murmuring amongst themselves

Upon hearing the Parade Marshall’s

Deep, gravelly voice shout

“Parade, stand at ease!”

Quiet prevailed

The Emcee opened the

Ceremony followed by the

Governor General, the

Minister of Public Safety and

Other officials, all offering

Solemn remarks for this solemn occasion

Until it was time to bring forth the dead

Those eleven brave men and women

Who died in this past year and

Would now join hundreds of other

Police souls who adorn the

Glass walls of remembrance

Which stand silently as the

Ottawa river and city

Serve as their background

Each name read aloud

With a brief history,

A history of human beings

Who lived, loved and

Believed in something so

Strongly they gave their

Lives for it

Once read, the march past

Began, each group giving

Eyes right as they passed

The hats, the hats worn by

These courageous officers

Whose families must push on

Walking back to our hotel

A lump formed in my throat

And I wondered how

The answer came as I

The small child

Walking in front of me