[D.V. RCMP media relations officer Jullie Rogers-Marsh]
'Constable Leo Tyler Francis died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash while on duty at pioneer days in Oromocto July 5, 1996'... "Constable Francis's name is now being added to the RCMP cenotaph in Regina, Saskatchewan....
His name will become the 240th name added to the Cenotaph, a memorial to the fallen RCMP officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty."
Sarah Francis D.V. [Constable Leo Francis' daughter, Sarah Francis]
"I received a call one day from an RCMP officer and I missed the call so there was a message saying 'this is Ian Grasman and I work for the RCMP and I was wondering if you could give me a call back' 14sx
"I was able to talk to him later that evening and he asked if [D.V. Picture of a smiling Constable Francis] my mom and I could come in the next day"..
He did tell me over the phone that my dad's name was going to be added [D.V. Sarah Francis] to the cenotaph in Regina and explained to me the process of how that was working and that it was a long time coming."...
[D.V. Sarah Francis looks through a photo album] "It was exciting, it was emotional for sure'
"Mom was really excited, she had an idea they were working on it [D.V. Sarah Francis] but she didn't want to tell me just in case it didn't happen so she's really excited and I think she's really excited for me to be able to have this and experience this and to go out to [D.V. Picture of Constable Francis standing next to his bed at RCMP Depot] Depot where Dad did his training and to get to see that'
[D.V. Sarah Francis] "I'm really excited to be with her and to hear her stories that she has of him being there, things that [D.V. Picture of Constable Francis in his Red Serge, standing next to his patrol car] he told her"
"It's overwhelming, but in a positive way it, [D.V. Sarah Francis] feels like it's full circle. My dad was 32 when he passed and that is the age I am now."
[D.V. Sarah Francis looks through a photo album] "Ever since I found out I've been digging a little more, a lot more into my dad, [D.V. Sarah Francis] everything he did. I've always heard the stories and I've met so many people that have shared their stories with me. I guess [D.V. Picture of Leo Francis sitting at a table] after all this time, 23 years later, [D.V. Picture of Constable Francis standing next to his patrol car] I'm starting to do my own little investigating into him and all the things he did. [D.V. Picture of Constable Francis on an RCMP horse] So it's been emotional it's been tough [D.V. Sarah Francis] but it's been really exciting and empowering." [D.V. Picture of Constable Francis appears on screen, in the background, Sarah looks through a photo album]
I started to look into it and look into the memorial and looked at some of the names that have been added to it, some of the fallen [D.V. Sarah Francis] members in the past and I thought absolutely, of course his name deserves to be on there.
END
