The timing couldn’t be more apt as just two days after an Abbotsford Police Department officer was killed in the line of duty, a memorial to fallen officers is set to be unveiled in Chilliwack.
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The Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment of the RCMP is inviting the public to the Chilliwack RCMP detachment Wednesday at 1 p.m. for the unveiling of the UFVRD Fallen Officer Memorial.
The memorial in Chilliwack comes 40 years after Ottawa rookie constable David Kirkwood was murdered in the line of duty on July 11, 1977. That killing prompted a special service and tribute, which led to the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service.
On Sept. 24, 1998, the Government of Canada officially proclaimed the last Sunday of September every year as Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day.
“A formal, national Memorial Day gives Canadians an opportunity each year to formally express appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers, who make the ultimate, tragic sacrifice to keep communities safe,” according to information on www.thememorial.ca.
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Back in 1978, the first memorial honoured 14 officers. By this year, the names of more than 860 fallen officers are engraved in Honour Roll tablets.
The unveiling of the UFVRD Fallen Officer Memorial is at the Chilliwack RCMP Detachment, 45924 Airport Rd., on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
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