Latest news with #SunsetCeremony
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘A sense of pride': RCMP's traditional Sunset Ceremony held at Depot Division
The final Sunset Ceremony of the year was held at RCMP's Depot Division on July 22, 2025. (GarethDillistone/CTVNews) The final Sunset Ceremony of the year was held at RCMP Depot Division Tuesday night and the event starting off with a bang. Two RCMP cannons were loaded and fired along with a field gun from Fort Walsh in southwest Saskatchewan. The Sunset Ceremony is an RCMP tradition that dates back more than 60 years. The marching band plays while cadets perform dismounted cavalry maneuvers. And while the force is always modernizing and upgrading its technology, they feel it's important to hold onto their heritage. The event attracts hundreds of tourists, local residents and usually some retired RCMP veterans that reminisce their younger days. 'I know that it is very important to them. Depot is kind of the heart of the organization,' Chief Supt. of RCMP Depot Division, Mike Lokken said. 'This is where everybody starts their training and then are scattered all across Canada. So, this is like home to them. When they come here for one of the ceremonies, to see the traditions, I think it refuels their Mountie soul, gives even citizens that have never been here a sense of pride,' he added. The lowering of the Canadian flag is a part of every Sunset Ceremony. Cadets treat the flag with respect as they fold it and march it off the parade square.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How Alton, Ill., honored the fallen on Memorial Day
ALTON, Ill. – For Memorial Day 2025, the 20th Annual Memorial Day Sunset Ceremony was held at the Alton National Cemetery in Alton, Illinois, to remember the brave men and women who laid down their lives for our country. Dozens attended to hear songs, speeches and prayers to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the fallen. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'My father, who was a Vietnam veteran, served in the Navy during Vietnam; he organized this sunset ceremony, of course, at the national cemetery here in Alton,' explained one of the event organizers, Robert Baird. 'Certainly, everyone knows of Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, but not a lot of folks are familiar that Alton here locally also has a national cemetery.' Robert Baird's father, Richard Baird, created this ceremony nearly 20 years ago, helping to preserve the cemetery and honor the legacy of the hundreds of valiant soldiers buried there. Unfortunately, Baird passed away in April 2025, leaving his wife and son to continue the tradition. 'I will continue to organize this and invite members from our local community here to participate in, again, recognizing America's greatest heroes,' Robert told FOX 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
