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Dressed in red serge, two boys salute the cadets that march past at the RCMP Sunset Ceremony.
It is the conclusion to the day where 10-year-old Ben and 11-year-old Logan both took over as commanding officers at RCMP Depot division in Regina.
“I was so excited,” said Ben. “I never thought I would be able to do this.”
Theadventure was organized by RCMP Saskatchewan, RCMP Alberta, and the Kids with Cancer Society.
Kids with Cancer is geared to help people in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The society provides financial and education support to families, as well as unique experiences.
Ben and Logan salute cadets walking past in the Sunset Ceremony. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
The journey began in Edmonton, where the boys were welcomed onto the plane by a pipe band.
Ben was thrilled when he found out where they were heading.
“My mom tricked me and said we were just volunteering, but when we went in the plane I started getting suspicious,” he said.
Ben said it “blew his mind” when he found out he was going to be a commanding officer for the day.
Logan said the news came as a surprise.
“It’s actually really cool,” he said.
When the boys arrived at Depot, they got to tour the training academy, ride in SWAT vehicles, inspect cadets, and give the final salute in the Sunset Ceremony.
A member of the band practices in the early morning at RCMP Depot for the Sunset Ceremony. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
Chief Superintendent Mike Lokken gave up his role as commanding officer for the day to the boys.
“It is nice for us to be able to stand up next to them considering how much they have been through,” he said.
He said seeing hearing the excitement in the boys voices and the smiles on their faces made it all worthwhile.
Lokken remembers when police officers first came to visit his classroom with police dogs when he was in Grade 2.
“I can remember absolutely everything about that day,” he said. “Did it make an impression on me and lead me to the path I’m on now? Perhaps.
“I think it’s a good thing to have these connections with the community.”
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The excitement of the day was enough to inspire Ben.
“I want to be a police officer,” he said.
The boys closed out the day saluting cadets as they marched past during the Sunset Ceremony. The colourful display is a military tradition that is only done four times a year at Depot.
The Sunset Ceremony includes a live cannon drill. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
Corporal Miles Hebert said the event signals the end of day, which includes the ceremonial lowering of the Canadian flag.
“We are very proud of the work that we do here, and very proud to be apart of the community, Hebert said.
The 32 cadets perform a foot drill, marching in time with the band. The event also incorporates a cannon drill.
The event concludes with the final salute, which was taken by the two honorary officers.
“It’s very exciting, it’s nostalgic, it’s thrilling,” Hebert said. “It brings you back to your core, to your roots about what we do and how we want to be apart of the community, and encourage our young cadets to be apart of the community as well.”
The final sunset ceremony will take place for the public to see at RCMP Depot on July 23.
The Sunset Ceremony signals the end of the day at Depot. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
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