This is a very important day to pay homage to those that gave their lives for our way of freedom in Canada.
I am so proud that my daughter, who is a senior cadet, volunteered and performed cenotaph duty. My son was part of the honor guard as well for the cenotaph ceremony.

I do have one concern about these proceedings.
Each year it seems that the RCMP have a stronger presence in the event. Not just traffic control or security, but as full participants.
Why?
I do not recall the RCMP being involved in any war on foreign soil. So, by definition are not and cannot be called military veterans.
Granted they serve the country, but they are not war veterans. Remembrance day is for war and military veterans.
I do not want to take away any pride of duty nor do I suggest that the RCMP members are not appreciated, but they are not veterans and their participation, especially at the cenotaph, takes away from the real actual war and military veterans.
Is our armed forces so scarce now that we have need to add the civil security forces to participate?

The RCMP are often deployed into action in conflicts around the world. Their basic training is similar to CF training, every RCMP officer has to go through it. They are not put into conflict situations, but sometimes peace is enforced by force.

They try to maintain peace in communities torn by the conflict, train "locals" how to enforce their local laws, and help recruit persons local to the area to act as law enforcement. Some of them never came home from overseas or were injured/killed on at home from civil violence (just like the Armed Forces). On our home streets, they often step in to prevent trouble that could escalate into conflicts (wars) between rival "gangs". In doing this, I imagine they have a much tougher job here then overseas.

They sometimes have to shoot fellow Canadian citizens... Several recent incidences in Prince George between the rivals (and their splinters) could escalate into wars without the RCMP to intervene and put a stop to the worst of it before it gets that bad.

Some of the RCMP are even veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces as well (before they became RCMP). As such, their presence as participants is warranted, welcomed and should not be questioned.

correct me if I am wrong but I do believe that the members of the RCMP were called out during wartime to teach and to protect

This is for Loki. Your comments have no merit and are unfounded.

Although the RCMP is a civilian police force, in 1921, following the service of many of its members during the First World War, King George V awarded the force the status of a regiment of dragoons, entitling it to display the battle honours it had been awarded.
Service in wartime
The Boer War
During the Second Boer War, members of the North-West Mounted Police were given leaves of absence to fight with the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) and Lord Strathcona's Horse. The force raised the Canadian Mounted Rifles, mostly from NWMP members, for service in South Africa. For the CMR's distinguished service there, King Edward VII honoured the NWMP by changing the name to the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP) on June 24, 1904.

World War I
During World War I, the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP) conducted border patrols, surveillance of enemy aliens, and enforcement of national security regulations within Canada. However, RNWMP officers also served overseas. On 6 August 1914, a squadron of volunteers from the RNWMP was formed to serve with the Canadian Light Horse in France. In 1918, two more squadrons were raised, A Squadron for service in France and Flanders and B Squadron for service in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force

World War II
In 1939, No. 1 Provost Company (RCMP), Canadian Provost Corps, was raised for service in Europe. The unit served with distinction throughout World War II.


Honours
As a regiment of dragoons, the RCMP is entitled to wear battle honours for its war service as well as carry a guidon. It was awarded this status in 1921, with its first guidon presented in 1935. As a regiment, the RCMP mounted the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade in 1937 leading up to the coronation of King George VI.

Battle honours
Northwest Canada 1885, South Africa 1900–02
The Great War: France and Flanders 1918, Siberia 1918–19
The Second World War: Europe, 1939–45

Honorary distinction
The badge of the Canadian Provost Corps¹

Hey Loki, before you fire off a salvo you'd better make sure your powder is dry!
Thanks for the info bud and Imorg!