Argyll Veterans Parade

(Updated)
Two weeks after Corporal Nathan Cirillo was gunned down while standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders held their annual veteran’s parade in Hamilton Wednesday night.

And because of that, the typically private and quiet affair garnered some more public attention.

The veterans parade happens here every year and as mentioned, it’s normally a fairly quiet and private event. But given what’s happened over the last two weeks, members of the public came out to show their support. And Corporal Nathan Cirillo was on everyone’s mind.

More than 100 members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regiment marched down James Street to Bayfront Park to remember their brothers who have fallen. Argyll’s like Corporal Nathan Cirillo who was gunned down while standing on guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa two weeks ago.

Corporal Logan McKnight: “It’s impossible not to think about Corporal Cirillo every day. So of course, he will be in our thoughts tonight.

2nd Lieutenant David Brennan: “No doubt that all Argylls on parade will be not only be thinking about Corporal Cirillo, but all his family and even Warrant Officer Vincent in Quebec and all Canadian Forces members that have been lost.

As they marched, it was a time to remember and reflect.

2nd Lt. Brennan: “Lots of prayers going out, thinking about the families and the regiment, and coming together, and that brotherhood being there for each other

Cpl. McKnight: “The values that we stand up to protect and the cost of protecting those values.”

They marched to the Argyll Pavilion at Bayfront Park for a ceremony to honour the veterans of the regiment — and paused to remember Corporal Cirillo

Members of the public came out to show their support at the normally quiet and private event.

“It was just the most devastating thing to see what happened in Ottawa. And then to find out it was one of our Hamilton boys”

“It’s important for the regiment to see we support them. Not only when the whole country eyes are on them but also day to day.

As the regiment marched through Bayfront Park, it was dark. And all you could see was the Argyll’s Pavilion which was lit up for the ceremony. As he ceremony took place, members of the public hung back on the outside of the group and listened in and reflected along with the regiment.