A groups of veterans stood guard at the Wallaceburg Cenetaph on Saturday in honour of two fallen soldiers.
“Two years ago Corporal Nathan Cirillo was on guard at the tomb of the unknown solider when he was shot from behind by an ISIS homegrown terrorist, who went on to attack the Parliament building,” Rob Simpson, president of the Wallaceburg Veterans and Family Support Group, told the SYdenham Current.
“Several days before that Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, who was 30 days shy of retiring, was run down from behind by another sympathizer of ISIS. We as veterans have come out ever since then and mounted a Guard of Honour because of what happened. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the Holiest site of soldiers. We have always come out. We lay two white roses, one for Warrant Officer Vincent and one for Corporal Cirillo. They are heroes of this country. It is the least we can do.”
Simpson said their families were ripped apart by this “senseless act here is Canada.
“We come in for about an hour. Our first year we did 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., the start of (Cirillo’s) shift. Last year be did 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the end of his shift and this year we did 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to commemorate when he was shot, approximately.
Simpson said their group always plans on holding this memorial.
“We always do this and we have always invited the public to come out. It is a great little group we have here and I am honoured that these guys come out.”
Pastor Brian Horrobin was also on hand to take part in the event.
“The current Government did a thing last year but than chose not to do it this year. I think their reason was they didn’t want to draw attention. Other groups across Canada are still doing it anyway. I am not sure how many communities but others are doing it. Pat Davis was here to represent Bev Shipley’s office.”
Here are some photos on the event:
