By Melanie Jacob
Journal Editor
There's no denying that the events of last week shook the country. To have such a violent experience occur at the heart of the nation's capital was both shocking and horrifying. And yet, throughout the entire ordeal, Canadians remained calm. There was no widespread panic or mass hysteria, only the grief-stricken focus on the tragedy that befell us and brought us together. Rather than give fame to the killer, we recognized one of our fallen.
And yet, nobody seemed to remember the death of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who was mowed down only two days prior.
No doubt, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo's death was heartrending. Accounts of his life say he was a "gentle giant" who loved animals and his dogs in particular. In fact, I have a cousin back in Ontario who was in cadets with Cirillo. Apparently, though he was older by a year, my cousin said he was part of the "alpha" group because he was really good.
But unlike Cirillo, whose death was both poignant and noteworthy, Vincent's was seemingly unremarkable. He was instead quietly buried in the shadow of Cirillo's much more memorable death.
And who could blame them?
Cirillo's death seemed to strike at the heart of so many because of the kind of man he proved himself to be. Moreover, his dying at the foot of the National War Memorial seemed symbolic, as if to say that he really gave his heart for this country; that he bled for this nation. Despite the handful of medical civilians and military personnel that surrounded him, working tirelessly performing CPR, Cirillo still died in their arms.
But that doesn't mean Vincent - or any other soldier - died for anything less. Here's the point: Cirillo's death isn't about just one man or one death. Of course, the right thing to do is focus on the good things about his life and honour his memory, but we should also use this opportunity to pay tribute to all the soldiers and officers of the law that have died in the line of duty.
In spite of the tragedy and grief that Cirillo's and Vincent's deaths left in their wake, the legacy they leave behind will come to mean more for the nation than just one day's consequences. It will reverberate in the coming days in a way that should hopefully be for the better.
With that said, this is a warning for everyone with an agenda: don't try to use either death as a means to further your own ends. Don't use them as a platform to make a political statement. Don't use them to try to write your next controversial blog just to get a reaction out of people.
If anything, Cirillo's (and Vincent's) death should be the flagpole upon which we mount our solidarity, not our accusations. Instead of pointing fingers and saying who should've done what, spectators and commentators should be trying instead to help strengthen our nation.
In this regard, it seems the media has done a good job focusing attention in the right direction. Most of it seems to be centered on honouring the memory of Cirillo and paying tribute to his death. But now, it's time to expand that focus and include others who died in the same vein; others whose deaths may not have been as memorable.
Despite the gut-wrenching sorrow from such a blow to the heart of home, Cirillo's death is just one on a list. Like my cousin said, "Even though his death is definitely important, we have to remember that he's just one of millions."
Indeed, how many soldiers have fought and died for us in the last century alone? Too many to count. Too many that are buried in unmarked graves, just like the bones of the Unknown Soldier that lay in the tomb memorial where Cirillo breathed his last. Like the bones he laid next to, Cirillo's death is a symbol of all the Canadians who have died or may yet die for their country.
Thus, the sorrow during this year's Remembrance Day will be extra painful for some, and more poignant for others. But maybe this is what it will take for the memory of sacrifice to remain strong in the hearts of all Canadians. Maybe Cirillo's and Vincent's deaths on the 100th anniversary of the First World War is what it'll take for their memory to never be forgotten or callously dismissed.
