A candlelight vigil will be held in Mayerthorpe today to commemorate the fallen four RCMP officers on the 10th anniversary of their deaths.
In Red Deer, Keith and Colleen Myrol will gather with friends and family to remember their son Brock Myrol, 29, who was slain along with Constables Anthony Gordon, Leo Johnston and Peter Schiemann.
“It’s a strange day because it’s not a celebration,” said Keith. “It’s the marking of a day that actually was a horrible day.
“So we’ll just work our way through the day.”
Myrol said their daughter and her husband and grandchildren all live in town and some friends are also stopping by.
“We won’t be alone. That’s the main thing.”
There have been many events over the years to remember the sacrifices of the four young RCMP officers and the Myrols are grateful for the thoughts and messages from other Canadians.
“Over the years, we’ve gone to so many memorials and things that people have done in honour of the boys.
“It’s wonderful when people do that, obviously.”
A lifelong musician, Myrol found a way to put his thoughts together through lyrics and song.
He posted his song Heroes on YouTube and has been pleased to see how many people have seen it. About 3,000 have viewed the video so far. It can be found by typing in ‘Heroes by Keith Myrol.’
It is introduced as a “tribute to my son, his fallen brothers, and to all of the men and women in uniform who serve and have served, to keep us safe and secure.”
The moving musical tribute includes a slideshow featuring the officers and the opening of the official memorial park for the officers in Mayerthorpe, among other images.
One image shows Brock, Leo and Peter posing for a detachment portrait with seven of their comrades, all in red serge, and two civilians. Brock had been on the job for less than three weeks.
“The whole idea is just to be a memorial tribute,” he said.
The four officers were shot by James Roszko on his farm near Mayerthorpe. RCMP had been there as part of a vehicle theft and marijuana grow-op investigation.
Roszko was wounded by returning fire from police and later committed suicide in a building where he was holed up.
Two local men, Shawn Hennessey, 28, and Dennis Cheeseman, 23, were sentenced to 15 years and 12 years respectively for helping Roszko prior to the shootings. Cheeseman was released from prison last November after serving two-thirds of his sentence. Hennessey remains in prison.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com