WATCH ABOVE: Halifax veterans pay tribute to fallen soldiers.
HALIFAX – Residents gathered at the Halifax cenotaph Saturday morning to pay tribute to two fallen soldiers.
About 50 people, many of them veterans, paid their respects and laid wreaths and poppies on the base of the cenotaph. The group was there to remember Nathan Cirillo, who was killed Wednesday on Parliament Hill, and Patrice Vincent, who died after being run over near Montreal.
“I came here to show solidarity with my brothers and sisters in the naval veterans group and also, as still a serving member, just to pay my respects,” said Darby Collicutt, who has been a Master Seaman in the Royal Canadian Navy for 14 years.
“Although I didn’t know these two guys, they’re my brothers and it affects us.”
Collicutt said he’s feeling a range of emotions in the aftermath of this week’s shootings.
“Hurtful. Definitely hurtful. Personally, I’m a little angry,” he said.
“Right now it’s time to grieve,” said Luc Brisson, who spent 23 years in the Navy.
Harry Fischer is serving in the Canadian Navy and has been with the military for 32 years.
“I think the important thing is to show to everybody that we’re 100 per cent behind the members of the Canadian Forces that have passed away this week and also show solidarity that we’re not going to cower in fear,” he said.
Fischer said the feeling now within the military is one of strength.
He said this week has taken an emotional toll on him.
“It’s one thing if you’re doing it overseas on a deployment, on a mission where you accept that risk. You normally think of home as really safe and [to] have this happen, [it] really, really hurt,” he said.
Sackville-Eastern Shore MP Peter Stoffer said the gathering was important to show support for the men and women who don uniforms to protect Canada.
“It’s very, very important to show also that Canada is strong. We’re not going to back down from someone who wishes to terrorize us in any way, shape or form.”
George Byzewski, who spent 32 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, said the two incidents were a “reality check” for him.
He adds he felt it was important to attend the ceremony as a show of support for the military brotherhood.
“The Navy has been in Halifax from the start,” Byzewski said. “It was incumbent upon us to show we were affected by the events in Ottawa and in Quebec. But also, we want the family to know we are thinking of them.”
The simple, yet poignant gathering included a prayer and an impromptu singing of O Canada.
There was also a moving tribute to the fallen soldiers: David Harrison, who is not in the military but is a member of the Atlantic Canadian World War Two Living History Association, stood guard at the bottom of the cenotaph.
“It shows Canadians can unite as one and still stand on guard in this country,” he said.
“So we don’t forget those who have served before and continue to serve.”
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