Slain soldier returned to Hamilton
Posted October 24, 2014 4:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS1130) – The body of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, gunned down in Ottawa this week, has returned to his hometown of Hamilton via the Veterans Memorial Highway and the Highway of Heroes.
It has been an emotional day with thousands of people lining up on overpasses along the highway to salute the honour guard.
Hamilton police and members of Cirillo’s regiment, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, accompanied the casket.
Some have been too emotional to speak, others have applauded and at some points people broke out into Oh Canada.
His family says the soldier had a strong and unwavering devotion to duty — and he would have done his duty even if he knew that tragedy was coming. His family has released a statement saying the support of the nation provides a measure of comfort and helps make the tragedy almost bearable.
Everyone seemed to have different reasons for being there, but for all it’s an incredibly important event.
“I thought whatever else was going on in my day could wait and that this was a chance to be here in support,” says this man.
“My grandfather was a war veteran and he worked at Parliament Hill and he would have wanted me to be here,” explains one woman.
“We don’t take kindly to people who want to make us scared, we are all going to come together anyways and show our support,” says another woman.
The visitations will be held at Markey-Dermody Funeral Home in Hamilton on Sunday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Monday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They will be open to the public, the funeral home says. The funeral will held at Christ’s Church Cathedral at 252 James Street North in Hamilton at noon on Tuesday; however, it’s not yet known if it will be open to the public.
Cirillo is expected to be given a full regimental funeral.
The 24-year-old was shot dead as he and a colleague stood guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday. The gunman was killed after he burst into the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.
This is what the first honour guards at the National War Memorial saw just minutes into their post on Friday:
