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October 23, 2014

Thursday’s Child: Parliament Hill, Ottawa

I’ve written before that travel makes the world smaller. That when tragedy occurs in a place we’ve been, we feel the story more personally than if we’re simply reading newspaper headlines.
That’s still true, but those tragedies don’t usually happen as close to home as they did on October 22, 2014.
A lone gunman shot and killed a soldier, Nathan Frank Cirillo, who was standing guard at the National War Memorial. The gunman subsequently entered our Parliament building with a rifle. After exchanging gunfire with police, he was killed before any more lives could be taken.
After a tragedy, our first response is to disbelieve it. To think, things like that don’t happen here. But, of course, they can. They can happen anywhere, even in a country that thinks of itself as peaceful, and that takes pride in the openness of its Parliament building and the surrounding area.
Ottawa is just a few hours drive from Toronto, and we took the girls there over the 2006 Christmas holidays. We did the things many families do when they visit Canada’s capital city. We went to the National War Memorial, we had our pictures taken outside the Parliament buildings, we toured the House of Commons and Senate. On our way into Parliament, we passed through metal detectors. My oldest daughter, then 12, set off the alarm by accidentally carrying her craft scissors in her pocket. We’ve laughed about it for years, but today it just makes me sad.
Cirillo was killed yesterday at the National War Memorial. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier now has a name and a face.
Sending prayers to the family of Nathan Cirillo.

Nathan Frank Cirillo; photo credit The Toronto Star

Filed Under: Ontario

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb says

    October 23, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Such a senseless tragedy Beth. I think we, as Canadians have all lost one of our own. Your sentiments here ring so true for many of us. This sense of "too close to home" really resonates. 🙁

    Reply
  2. Rosemary Wolbert says

    October 23, 2014 at 11:36 am

    A lovely, thoughtful tribute, Beth. Thought-provoking, too.

    Reply
  3. We Are Not Martha says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    So, so awful. Thanks for this very sweet post.

    Sues

    Reply
  4. Catherine says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    Dear Beth, There are no words for such senseless heartache; except prayers for this soldier and his family. Catherine

    Reply
  5. Valerie Gamine says

    October 23, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    The world, it seems, has gone mad lately. Thank you for taking a time out to honor and reflect upon what truly matters. xo

    Reply
  6. Liz Berg says

    October 23, 2014 at 11:01 pm

    So sad, so tragic. What a heartache for his family…and for Canada.

    Reply
  7. Angie Schneider says

    October 24, 2014 at 3:21 am

    I was so SHOCKED and couldn't believe when I saw this tragedy on TV.
    A darkest day for the family.
    Angie

    Reply
  8. Barbara says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:04 am

    It's heartbreaking, Beth. This post is a fine memorial.

    Reply
  9. Tricia Buice says

    October 24, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    So many tragedies in the world. I guess we should all count our blessings each morning and pray for those affected by this violence.

    Reply
  10. Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself says

    October 24, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    This was such an awful tragedy, it makes me upset just to think about 🙁

    Hugs
    Uru

    Reply
  11. Monica says

    October 26, 2014 at 1:25 am

    So so awful and sad. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.

    Reply
  12. grace says

    October 26, 2014 at 9:06 am

    how upsetting! i hadn't heard about this. 🙁

    Reply
  13. I Wilkerson says

    October 27, 2014 at 3:19 am

    This was so sad. We were in Ottowa in 2007 and the images from then and now are so disparate, I could barely bring them together.

    Reply
  14. Claudia says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    Canada has always been my link to sanity in an insane world. So it was more than heartbreaking to read of this. I know anything can happen anywhere. I wish it wasn't so.

    Reply
  15. Juliana Levine says

    October 28, 2014 at 3:05 am

    This is such a sad event…nice tribute.

    Reply
  16. Kitchen Riffs says

    October 29, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    Really such a senseless and sad happening. I feel for the families. Really nice post, too. Thanks.

    Reply
  17. Katerina says

    October 30, 2014 at 8:15 am

    News arrived here as well! So sad. I feel so sorry first for him who left this world so early and second for his parents who lived to see their child dead. This is unbearable!

    Reply
  18. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

    October 30, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Beth, what a tragedy and what a very moving tribute, dear friend!

    Reply
  19. Joanne says

    November 2, 2014 at 2:29 pm

    Ugh, so awful. I feel sick just thinking about it.

    Reply

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