Thursday, October 23, 2014

Lest We Forget

It's still a couple of weeks until Remembrance Day / Veterans's Day, when we remember those who served and those who died in the wars.  Sadly, this year there will be one more to remember, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.

He died from a gunshot to the back from a terrorist punk yesterday in Ottawa.  Cpl. Cirillo was stationed at the War Memorial, a human reminder of all the soldiers who had gone before him, a guardian of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.


This incident was particularly unsettling to me.  I come from a family who served.  My parents and uncles were in uniform, proudly serving during World War II.

I know this area of Ottawa very well as I went to college just a few blocks away. I would go for a walk to the War Memorial and Parliament Hill when I lived there as they were both peaceful and beautiful places.  That was then.

I remember touring the Parliament Buildings during a school trip when I was in the 6th grade. It was big and impressive and open.  I'm sure that will change now.

So, when I'm thinking of the reason for Remembrance Day and Veteran's Day this year, I'll be thinking of the unknowns, the many who served.  I'll be thinking about my family.  And, I'll be thinking of Cpl. Cirillo - and of Kevin Vickers, the Sergeant-at-Arms in the Parliament Buildings who stopped the terrorist in his tracks.  Dead.  Mr. Vickers is a hero.

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