The father of one of the Fallen Four spoke in Olds last Tuesday morning during the annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.
Rev. Don Schiemann, a Lutheran Church minister, said there are defining moments in everyone's lives and his was when his son Peter was killed on a Mayerthorpe farm just over six years ago by James Roszco.
“Peter loved life and looked forward to so many things,” he said, adding that family members that were left behind suffered great pain as a result. He said while all death is difficult, a death at the hands of another is the most grevious.
“We live in a world that groans under sin and death,” he said.
Schiemann said while many people act out of sadness, Roszco acted out of hatred.
Schiemann said the recent inquiry into the entire Mayerthorpe tragedy brought up many bad memories, particularly of the quanset hut on Roszco's property.
The quanset hut, for Schiemann, represents death. In contrast, he said an empty tomb is full of life.
“Yes, the quanset hut was horrible and I hate that place. We're not bound to the quanset hut (however). That quanset hut does not define us. The empty tomb defines us,” he said, adding, “although it may appear that Satin has all the cards, Christ has the last trump.”
Since his son's death, Schiemann has taken every available opportunity to lobby for changes to the justice system to enhance public safety. He said he's had to temper his feelings so as to not lobby for change from a place of bitterness or hatred. Schiemann said he has focussed on the fact that changes to the justice system will bring good.
Following the presentation, Schiemann said he's had some contact over the years with the provincial Solicitor General's office and the federal justice department to bring about those changes.
“The federal government has been very responsive in introducing all kinds of legislation to address a lot of those issues,” he said.
Schiemann said one of the bittersweet things about Peter's death is that since he died, both his siblings have gotten married and had children.
“There's a bittersweetness to things,” he said.
"Yes, the quanset hut was horrible and I hate that place. We're not bound to the quanset hut (however). That quanset hut does not define us. The empty tomb defines us."Rev. Don Schiemann