Nathan Cirillo honoured on Highway of Heroes

By Taylor Broderick 

BELLEVILLE – Emotions were high on Friday as many gathered on Highway 401 overpasses to honour the late Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.

Overpasses from Ottawa – where Cirillo, while standing guard at the National War Memorial, was gunned down Wednesday by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau – to Hamilton, Ont.,  Cirillo’s home, were crowded with citizens and city officials who wished to pay their respects as his body passed by on the Highway of Heroes.

The Trenton fire department at the overpass , preparing for the motorcade to come.
Photo by Taylor Broderick

The Glen Miller Road overpass was filled with police officers, cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances and military personnel, along with members of the community. The spectators waved their Canadian flags proudly.

Citizens showing their pride for Canada and paying respect to Cpl. Cirillo
Photo by Taylor Broderick

Although all military personnel in uniform were instructed not to speak to any members of the press, World War Two veteran Ed Haddon, 92, spoke out about the shooting in Ottawa and why he was present on the overpass.

“The event is so shocking that you almost have to cry for your country to see this happen,” he said. Haddon spoke emotionally about Cirillo and the current state of Canada.

Haddon said he only sees sadness on the news anymore which he said doesn’t look good for the future of Canada. He added that he thinks it is sad that as a country we cannot see far enough ahead to know where we are going.

In his early twenties, Haddon served as a tank commander in the war.

Haddon’s daughter, Dari, explained that her father’s tank was attacked and only two out of five men in the tank survived. Therefore, being at the overpass was important because the death of Cirillo – being as young as he was – mirrors the death of those he fought beside long ago, she said.

Ed Haddon was given a flag to hold as Cirillo’s body passed by the Glen Miller overpass
Photo by Taylor Broderick

Others at the overpass shared some of the same feelings as Haddon.

Terry Honour, a member of the local scouting community, said he felt sadness for the fallen soldier but also pride to see so many people out to support him.

Terry Honour and other members of the scouting community held a large Canadian flag. Honour said it was appropriate for them to wear their uniforms at the overpass.
Photo by Taylor Broderick

Members of the public said it was inspiring to see so many people at the overpass and that it shows how strong Canada is during a time of loss.

“It’s good that the country is pulling together and showing solidarity,” said Anita Peck, who has lived in the Quinte area her entire life.

Peck said that what happened in Ottawa was a terrible tragedy, but it is important that people were gathering at the overpass to pay tribute to a fallen soldier.

A woman from a military family was present at the overpass and watched with great emotion as Nathan Cirillo’s motorcade passed by. The woman didn’t want to give her name but she spoke about her heartache after hearing what happened in Ottawa .

The woman said she was scared another shooting will happen again, but she also added people in Canada will stand together to keep the country strong.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion wore their uniforms and war medals to support Cpl. Cirillo at the Geln Miller Road overpass.
Photo by Taylor Broderick