Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was remembered Tuesday as a ‘kid at heart’ who was not only a father to his 5-year-old son Marcus, but also a friend.
In a heartfelt eulogy delivered by Cirillo’s cousin Jennifer Holland at the slain soldier’s regimental funeral in Hamilton, Cirillo was fondly remembered as a loving father whose son “adored him.”
“It was beautiful to see the joy he had while playing with his son,” Holland said of her cousin, who was gunned down while standing guard at the National War Memorial near Parliament Hill last week.
“Nathan may have looked like a big, tough man, but he was such a kid at heart.”
In Hamilton’s Christ’s Church Cathedral filled with soldiers, politicians and Cirillo’s family, Holland shared several memories she and her family have of the fallen soldier.
“He was always full of excitement and we never knew what his next adventure would be; from coming home covered in mud after playing paintball to surprising us with his motorcycle,” she said.
“His contagious smile and endless laughter were some of the reasons why he made friends so easily.”
The fun-loving Hamilton Argylls reservist also had a “meticulous,” side, according to his cousin.
“Not only was he a well-groomed man, he was very particular about his belongings. Everything had its own place,” she said with a smile.
“Nathan was a dishwasher pro. He would rearrange the entire dishwasher to perfectly place every dish to his standards. It is no wonder he was like this as his mom was his original drill sergeant.”
Holland said it was no surprise to his family when Cirillo decided to become a cadet at age 13 given his interest in military history and love of the outdoors.
“As a family, it was an absolute joy watching Nathan grow from an eager cadet to dedicated corporal.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also spoke at the funeral Tuesday, commending the soldier for making the ultimate sacrifice.
“Most of us can never truly understand the significance to a soldier of the simple act of standing reverently on guard at (the National War Memorial), but … Cpl. Cirillo, who felt the calling of a soldier as a 13-year-old cadet, he understood,” Harper said.
“He knew what he was protecting and what he was preserving. He died protecting and preserving it.”
Harper said the memory of Cirillo will now forever be linked to the Ottawa monument.
“Our hearts are broken at his loss but our spirits are grateful for his memory,” Harper said.
“May his son, young Marcus Daniel Cirillo, someday find comfort in the fact that our entire country looks up to his dad.”
