Sergeant Ryan Peden and Master Corporal Terry Fullerton of the Swan River chapter of the Fourth Canadian Ranger Patrol Group have just returned from six weeks of working in Ottawa with the National Sentry Program (NSP), which posts members of the Canadian Armed Forces to guard in front of and around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The National Sentry Program reinforces Canada's commitment to remember and honour Canadians who served in the 20th century's major wars, including both World Wars. NSP also honours those who have contributed to Canada’s long-standing tradition of military excellence through to the present day.
The Canadian Armed Forces have posted sentries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier since 2007. The program includes a rotation of sentries from the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Ranger units from across Canada.
On Oct. 22, 2014, Corporal Nathan Cirillo was tragically killed while on sentry duty. Sentry duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier now holds an even deeper meaning for both the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian public.
Peden and Fullerton left Swan River for Ottawa on Sept. 8 and got back on Oct. 22. The first week of their arrival was spent training while the rest of the time they participated on four-days-on, four-days-off work weeks where they would spent their days on guard duty, sentry duty and security rotation.
“It’s been outstanding,” said Fullerton. “Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is quite an honour. The group I’m in has six Rangers and the rest are Air Force.
“We had a really good time meeting people from all over the world. When we weren’t doing sentry duty, one of our duties was being out on the tomb where we are walking and watching for any hazards and also watching if the people that are guarding need a hand. Other than that, you’re interacting with the public. We had to do a big history lesson on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier so that we could explain everything correctly.
“It’s been quite rewarding,” Fullerton continued. “You get quite a mix of reactions. You get some people who just come, sit, walk around and leave. The last few days it seems to be we get more emotional people who are laying wreaths or some memorial piece on their own. Then we go over and ask them if we can help them or if they just want to be alone.”
Peden and Fullerton worked in separate groups, but when they weren’t standing at attention on sentry duty, stone-faced and motionless, they were keeping a watchful eye on and around the tomb. And, when they weren’t doing that, they were watching security screens.
And, in addition to the every-day tourists and pilgrims that visit the site, dignitaries such as Canada’s Prime Minister and other foreign leaders stopped by on occasion.
On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, they also had a smudging of the site performed by Chief Petty Officer Pat Stevens, followed by a traditional lunch.
“It’s been an honour, a once in a lifetime experience to get to come to Ottawa and do this,” said Peden. “Standing in the memory of those that gave their lives is a humbling experience, and amazing to interact with people and make them more aware of the sacrifices made.”
Peden added that the most memorable highlights of his experience is the first time he was posted onto the tomb and the last time.
“The first time, you’re incredibly nervous,” he said. “There’s crowds of people, you’re being piped up and all the drills you’ve been learning for the past week are racing through your head. You want to make sure you get it right because of where you are.
“The last time, I was on shift for the last hour of the day that we were doing guard duty, and to stand there as the sun was setting and we were playing the lament on the bagpipes for the final time during the day, facing the monument and again just in that presence of that memory, you feel very grateful for what we have and very humbled by what other people gave so we could have that.”
Peden will also be returning to Ottawa to participate in similar duties during the National Remembrance Day service held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“During the day, there’ll be four people standing guard over the tomb,” he said. “There’ll be a member of the Army, a member of the Air Force, a member of the Navy and an RCMP officer. I will be the one posting them onto the tomb, so I’ll be calling the command drill and marching them down from where we’re posted to the tomb itself. It’s a big honour and I’m the first Canadian Ranger to do it.
“Hopefully it goes well because my chain of command and the Armed Forces put a lot of trust in me to come down and do it for the first time. I’m very honoured by that trust and I hope I do everyone proud by it.”