HAMILTON, Ont. – The city of Hamilton, Ont. did its best to see Cpl. Nathan Cirillo laid to rest with appropriate honours on Tuesday.
In the days since Cirillo was gunned down in front of the National War Memorial, the people of the Hammer garlanded their city in Maple Leafs, piled bouquets in front of the Armouries until the air there smelled of roses.
On Tuesday, they lined the streets, somber and quiet, to respectfully watch the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders march from the Argyll Commemorative Pavilion at Bayfront Park to Christ’s Church Cathedral, where Cirillo was honoured by his regiment and his country.
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It was moving to see the people standing and watching the procession pass. Thousands of people — all ages and races, men and women, many parents with their children — took time from their lives to bear witness to Cirillo’s procession.
Firefighters, police, serving members of the Canadian Forces saluted as the procession passed.
It was sad to see soldiers struggle to contain their tears as they saluted their fallen comrade.
The procession was very thoughtfully and beautifully put together.
At the front, looking proud and somber in their highland dress uniforms marched two rows of Argyles.
Behind them, a pipe band played When the Battle is Over, the skirl of the pipes and rattle of the snare drums raising the hairs on the back of everybody’s necks.
It’s a tune the regiment has been playing on sad occasions since before the First World War.
March no more my soldier laddie,
There is peace where there once was war.
Sleep in peace my soldier laddie,
Sleep in peace, now the battle’s over.
Behind the pipe band, there was a gun carriage bearing the flag-draped casket of Cirillo, flanked by an honour guard of his comrades, stoic and intent on their mission.
Behind, flanked by soldiers, were family members.
It was sad to see Cirillo’s poor mother, Katherine, suffering, but it was moving to see her lean on the shoulders of strong soldiers as she walked. They gathered round her when the procession stopped, and spoke to her, and it was absolutely quiet, nothing piercing the silence but the thrum of helicopters overhead and the rhythmic beat of a drum.
Cirillo’s son, Marcus, who at five can scarcely understand what he has lost, had the support of family members, and will have the support of donations to standonguardfund.com from across Canada in the years ahead.
He walked behind his father’s casket, wearing the hat of the regiment, with its red and white checkerboard pattern, holding hands with family until he got tired and was carried along.
Laren Rohrer, a good friend of Nathan Cirillo, went to watch funeral procession Tuesday Oct 28 in a shirt she and her friends made to honour their friend.
Laren Rohrer, a close friend of Cirillo, watched the procession wearing a T-shirt bearing his photo in dress uniform, a poppy and the words: REST IN PEACE NATHAN CIRILLO 1989-2014.
Rohrer was tight with Cirillo. He set her up with an ex-boyfriend, for instance, and they used to go to clubs together.
She was calm on Tuesday, intent on bearing witness.
“He was a very kind man, very generous, very nurturing, very loving,” she said. “He was just all round a gentleman, a kind, loving man. Everyone knew him and everybody loved him. And now, the entire country’s behind him.”
She said it means a lot to her, and it would to Cirillo, the way Canadians have come together to honour him.
“I come from a long line of military family,” she said. “It definitely means a lot. Nathan was very much an attention seeker. Every club that we ever went to together, everyone knew Nathan. “
She said, with warmth and affection, that Cirillo was a “womanizer, through and through.”
Rohrer has taken comfort from a Canadian Press story that told how Barbara Winters, a lawyer who happened to be nearby as he was shot, comforted him in his last moments.
“He was in his glory the day that he passed,” said Rohrer. “He had a kind army man next to his heart. He had a woman whispering in his ear that he was loved. His family loves him. His friends love him. That’s what Nathan would have wanted. He always wanted to find true love. And he had a woman saying so right at his last moment.”
Rohrer said she keeps reading it again and again.
“Knowing that, there is hope for humanity,” she said. “For a perfect complete stranger to (go to) somebody, that she would go out of her way and help, it meant a lot.”
Inside Christ’s Church Cathedral, the Rev. Canon Rob Fead referred to Cirillo as “Canada’s son,”
“His bravery, his sacrifice, is not in vain,” he told the invited guests, the hundreds more watching on screens at the First Ontario Centre arena nearby, and a national TV audience.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, accompanied by his wife Laureen, joined in the tributes to the slain soldier, making note of the “heart-wrenching irony” that he was killed at the National War Memorial, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“These monuments remind us that freedom is never free,” he said. “It has been earned by the soldier, and then donated to all of us.”
Jenny Holland, Cirillo’s cousin, spoke on behalf of the family, remembering him as a “kid at heart.”
Soldiers, veterans and members of the public all said that the event was well done, and they seemed emotionally relieved as the streets cleared out following the service.
Mike Boudrias (left) and two friends drove from Meaford, Ont., to witness the funeral procession of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in Hamilton on Tuesday, Oct 28. They are with the organization Canadian Veteran Freedom Riders.
Mike Boudrias, of the Canadian Veteran Freedom Riders, came in from Meaford, Ont., near Owen Sound, to watch the procession.
“Very emotional,” he said. “Very moving. It’s a point in history that we hope no one will ever forget in this country. Very very moving. Could almost cry right now.”
He wanted to be sure to mention Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who was struck down in an ISIS-inspired hit-and-run attack on Oct. 20.
“It’s just amazing to see the number of Canadians who are paying their respects to Cpl. Cirillo,” said Boudrias. “And let’s not forget Warrant Officer Vincent. Although this is an event for Cpl. Cirillo, we think of both soldiers at the same time.”
Vincent’s funeral will be held on Saturday at Cocathedrale Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue in Longueuil, Que.
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