Veteran Honours Slain Soldier By Guarding Vancouver Cenotaph
Vet Guards Vancouver Cenotaph In Honour Of Ottawa Soldier
The Huffington Post B.C.
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As Canada continues to mourn the loss of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in Ottawa, one retired veteran is honouring the fallen soldier by guarding a war memorial in Vancouver.
Retired corporal David Ward donned his uniform and stood guard at the Vancouver Cenotaph in the city's Victory Square on Thursday morning, one day after Cirillo was shot and killed by a lone gunman at Ottawa's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Ward told Global News he wants to "to let those a**holes that murdered our Canadian soldiers here in Canada [know] that they’re not gonna win."
Ward, 63, was based in Ontario, and served in Cyprus in 1974-5 as well as at the United Nations in Egypt, according to Global.
Cirillo was "too young to go," Ward told BCIT Broadcast News.
"But we do our duty and that’s why I’m out here. Even though we are retired, we still get the call out. We come out to mourn for our brothers and sisters who need our help right now.”
He stood guard at the cenotaph for several hours.
BCIT reporter Simon Little captured Ward at his post in these photos:
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Cenotaph vigils are being organized across the country for Saturday.
Nathan Cirillo stands next to Memorial near Parliament Hill just minutes before the shooting occurred
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Emergency personnel tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
(03 of12)
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An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014. A soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was shot by an unknown gunman and people reported hearing gunfire inside the halls of Parliament. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was rushed away from Parliament Hill to an undisclosed location, according to officials. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
(04 of12)
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Several police officers walk near downtown Ottawa. (credit:LARS HAGBERG via Getty Images)
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OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 22: A police officer stands guard on Wellington St. in downtown, October 22, 2014 in Ottawa, Canada. Officials are investigating multiple reports of shootings and suspects after at least one gunman shot a Canadian soldier and then entered Canada's Parliament building. (Photo by Mike Carroccetto/Getty Images) (credit:Mike Carroccetto via Getty Images)
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A Royal Canadian Mounted Police intervention team walks past a gate/ (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
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Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers carries the mace from the House of Commons at the conclusion of the session in Ottawa. Two sources told The Canadian Press that Vickers shot the assailant inside the Hall of Honour, the main entrance to the Centre Block beneath the Peace Tower on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Officials have not confirmed that Vickers fired at the suspect, but one MP credited Vickers on Twitter with saving lives. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Adrian Wyld)
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Police search cars and pedestrians as they leave the Alexandra Bridge and enter Gatineau, Quebec. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Patrick Doyle)
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RCMP intervention team members clear the area at the entrance of Parliament hill.
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Police teams move towards Centre Block at Parliament Hill. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Justin Tang)
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A Royal Canadian Mounted Police intervention team responds to the shooting. (credit: AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
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A man adds a rosary to a memorial at the John Weir Foote V.C. Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario, October 22, 2014 after a soldier believed to be from the base was killed in the attack in Ottawa. A gunman whose name was on a terror watch list killed a soldier and attempted to storm Canada's parliament before being gunned down in turn by the assembly's sergeant-at-arms. AFP PHOTO / Geoff ROBINS (Photo credit should read GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:GEOFF ROBINS via Getty Images)
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