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Six years since Cpl. Cirillo was shot in Ottawa.

Now Corporal Cirillo is at his post, Forever guarding Heaven’s Gates; Standing tall and strong and happy, With a beautiful smile on his face!
Gunned-down soldier Cpl. Nathan Cirillo remembered 1 year on at hilltop ceremony
CORPORAL NATHAN CIRILL0

 

I heard it on my truck’s radio,

The Senator's game was postponed;

But I didn't know the reason why,

Until I arrived back at home.

 

It happened all so suddenly,

A soldier had been shot;

While standing guard in Ottawa,

At our veteran's most sacred spot.

 

An assassin had sneaked up behind him

And shot him in the back;

Corporal Cirillo was mortally wounded

And died from this sneak attack.

 

Corporal Cirillo was a Highlander,

From the Argyll Sutherland clan;

He was strong and tough and happy

And was a very honorable man.

 

The smile on his face would light up a room,

As well as our Canadian Nation;

He has become a symbol of unity

And a hero who died at his station.

 

There was a caption in our local paper,

About the National War Memorial;

With the unknown soldiers Forever Vigilant,

Standing guard with the fallen Corporal.

 

This man had so much to offer

And now there is sadness and strife;

He has a little boy named Markus,

Who is the very light of his life.

 

Now Corporal Cirillo is standing guard,

With his Glengarry hat and kilt;

He’s guarding the gates of Heaven,

Where his blood will no longer be spilt.

                                                                                         

Corporal Cirillo will not be forgotten,

And on some far distant field;

The battle cry will be, ‘Remember Nathan’

As freedom our soldiers will shield.

 

It reminds me of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Who have many battle honors to share;

I know they must be heartbroken,

To see their comrade lying there.

 

But the killer wasn’t finished yet,

As he ran up to Parliament Hill;

He launched an attack on our leaders

And he wanted to continue to kill.

 

There was another hero there that day,

Who was very quick on the trigger;

He is the Sergeant at Arms of Parliament,

His name is Hon. Kevin Vickers.

 

Mr. Vickers calmly picked up his gun

And confronted the killer in the hall;

He shot him down quick and sure,

As he cowered near those hallowed walls.

 

A security guard had been wounded,

As he grappled with the madman;

And slowed him down as best he could,

As he continued with his deadly plan.

 

The police arrived very quickly,

To join in the thunderous fray;

And quickly moved down the hallway,

To blast the killer away.

 

Another soldier died that week,

While serving his country proud;

He was run down in a parking lot,

As he was walking along in the crowd.

                        

W/O Patrice Vincent was a firefighter,

A veteran of twenty-eight years;

Who also died wearing his uniform,

With his family we shed our tears.

 

Now Corporal Cirillo is at his post,

Forever guarding Heaven’s Gates;

Standing tall and strong and happy,

With a beautiful smile on his face!

 

       Bob Bartlett,

       North Bay