Cirillo’s friend speaks out

The Canadian soldier who stood alongside Corporal Nathan Cirillo the day he was shot and killed at the National War Memorial has made his first public statement.

Corporal Branden Stevenson says he’s still grieving and he’s still in shock. But he was back on guard at the National War Memorial today for the first time since the tragedy.

You can Stevenson here on the left. Walking along side Cirillo’s mother during the funeral procession last week. He says Cirillo was his best friend and his brother. The two met in grade nine and he says it was Cirillo who inspired him to join the Canadian Armed Forces.

Stevenson says he and Cirillo did everything together and always seemed to be laughing and joking about something. He says Cirillo was teasing him about his sock sagging just before the attack on the morning of October 22nd.

In the statement he released Monday, Stevenson says: “What happened shortly after left me in shock and grieving the loss of my best friend. My heart goes out to his family for the terrible loss they have to endure. I am still struggling to cope with everything that has happened.”

Hundreds of flowers and notes left at the National War Memorial and at the John W. Foote VC Armoury over the last 10 days were removed by government workers over the weekend to prepare the site for next week’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.