Canada Ping!
Posted on 10/22/2014 8:56:42 PM PDT by Squawk 8888
HAMILTON - Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was a doting father, an animal lover and a proud soldier who dreamed of serving his country since he was barely a teenager.
And the Hamilton native was living that dream Wednesday morning when he was gunned down in the nation’s capital while performing one of the highest honours bestowed upon only the finest Canadian soldiers — standing guard with an empty rifle over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Parliament Hill.
Now in Steeltown, across the country and around the world, the 24-year-old’s name will forever be tied to the day Canada’s innocence was stolen.
“He was very proud to be a soldier,” Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina said of Cirillo Wednesday.
Bratina was among the many who visited the armoury where the slain soldier’s reservist unit is based to pay their respects in the wake of the deadly attack in the heart of the country.
The mayor also visited Cirillo’s grief-stricken family, accompanied by Hamilton Police Chief Glenn de Caire, saying “there were lots of tears.”
“It’s very sad,” Bratina said, as the Canadian flag above the armoury flew at half-mast and flowers were piled up the locked gate to the armoury, which was guarded all day by soldiers.
Cirillo’s parents, two sisters, his five-year-old son and other family members were still in shock Wednesday and were too distraught to talk about their loss.
“His mom is now on her way to Ottawa,” Bratina said.
He said Cirillo became a cadet when he was just 13, then joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders about five years ago.
His most recent and final duty — standing sentry at the National War Memorial in Ottawa — began Monday.
“Someone who is assigned to ceremonial guard at the cenotaph in Ottawa is a very highly trained, qualified individual,” Bratina said. “To stand in ceremony at the national war memorial in Ottawa, right next to the Parliament buildings, is one of the highest accolades you can get.”
Although soldiers are armed with rifles while performing the ceremonial duty, the mayor pointed out that the guards do not typically have ammunition in their weapons.
And he, like the rest of Canada, was stunned by the shooting.
“To hear one of our own was taken ... in a cowardly ambush, it’s hard to put it into words,” Bratina said.
Others who visited the armoury expressed similar feelings.
“It tore my heart apart when I found out it was an (Argyll) because these are just kids that are just looking for the honour in life,” said veteran Ed Hughes, who served in Canada’s military in the 1980s. “And to end up being shot, so cowardly, while protecting the (Tomb of the) Unknown Soldier is a shame.
“It’s a sad day. Canada will never be the same,” he added.
Mike Vukovich said he immediately wondered “why would someone shoot this guy?”
Like many who visited the armoury, he didn’t know Cirillo, but he wanted to pay his respects because he felt he “had to do something” and “didn’t know what else to do.
“This whole thing is just terrible,” Vukovich said. “Such a cowardly act, despicable.”
Those who knew and loved Cirillo, as well as complete strangers, took to social media to share their thoughts on the second deadly attack on soldiers on Canadian soil in three days.
A Facebook memorial page — with a link to a fundraiser — honouring the reservist was launched just hours after his death.
“We all went out a few times and when my friend couldn’t meet me in Hamilton one night (I was coming from Windsor) Nathan stayed in downtown after he had finished with the army and waited for me even though it was snowing and well below 0C and my bus was over an hour late,” friend Megan Newman wrote.
“He stood at the station and waited and took me home, he even had a coffee in his hand for me. He was a true stand-up guy, who lived for his son and family also the military. He will be a big miss.”
Others thanked Cirillo for his service to Canada.
“Such a tragedy to lose such a fine young man to this senseless violence ... rest in peace Nathan ... you are our son and brother ... we stand in solidarity with your family and all of Canada mourns your loss,” posted Louise Frechette.
Photos on his @ncitaly Instagram account show Cirillo dressed in his camouflage combat uniform, cuddling a number of rescued dogs and spending time with his young son Marcus.
On an undated Plenty of Fish dating site profile, Cirillo explained he was in school trying to pursue a career as a border patrol officer.
“I am into fitness and living well but I don’t mind having those cheat nights laying down eating some junk food watching a movie with that special someone,” he wrote. “I’m down to earth, funny, athletic, but just over all an easy talker and easy going. I always (know) how to fix an awkward situation.”
Officials at GoodLife Fitness confirm Cirillo worked at one of the three Hamilton facilities but wouldn’t say in what capacity.
Canada Ping!
I hate mooselimbs!
I could do with one billion fewer of them on this planet.
Utopia!
I just never get the standing guard with an empty gun.
Like unarmed security officers all one can do is die when a shooter attacks.
No chance at all.
RIP.
OH! Canada:
Time to buy your soldiers some bullets.
why don’t you buy yourself a brain
“I would not be the one to be on guard duty unarmed.”
Then you are unfit for the job.
The ceremonial gun is always kept unloaded as a tribute to the unknowns.
http://www.guns.com/2013/05/27/a-21-guns-com-salute-to-the-troops/
The ceremonial gun is always kept unloaded as a tribute to the unknowns.
http://www.guns.com/2013/05/27/a-21-guns-com-salute-to-the-troops/
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