This story makes us proud to be Saultites (14 photos, video)

If you happened to be driving along Great Northern Road today at about 3 p.m., chances are you were witness to an uncommon site - a parade.

It's not every day one sees a parade marching down Highway 17.

But then again, today wasn't just any day.

The official opening and dedication of the Eric Nystedt Memorial Playground took place at Tarentorus Public School after staff, students, parents and volunteers spent the day in the rain to get Phase 1 of the project completed on time.

Born in Sault Ste. Marie, OPP Provincial Constable Eric Nystedt fell in the line of duty on July 3, 1993 at the age of 24.

With OPP officers standing at attention, the dedication ceremony included words of appreciation and addresses from Tarentorus Principal Stephen King, Algoma District School Board Director of Education Mario Turco, Sergeant James McGill, Staff Sergeant Wes Moore and MPP David Orazietti.

Constable Robin Carmount along with three other officers from the Minden detachment, where Constable Nystedt served, presented Principal King with a memorial plaque, more than $1,000 to put towards further playground development, and a banner signed by every elementary school student in Haliburton County.

"Eric's memory is alive in Minden still, but a plaque and a donation doesn't say that," Carmount told more than 200 onlookers. "But this will. There's over 1,400 names on this banner, and we want you to hang it in your school."

"I'm so excited and overwhelmed with everything today, I don't know if I can talk," said Constable Nystedt's mother, Mary-Lou Buerkle.

Following the unveiling of the Eric Nystedt dedication plaque and the ribbon-cutting at the main playground structure, attendees marched from the school to the Sault Ste. Marie OPP detachment office on Great Northern Road to share the organization's 100th anniversary celebration and to honour the memory of a fallen comrade.