[LINK] "Cpl. Nathan Cirillo mourned at funeral in Hamilton"

[rfmcdonald]

CBC reports on the Hamilton funeral of corporal Nathan Cirillo, the young man murdered at the war memorial in Ottawa last week.

Tears flowed freely in downtown Hamilton on Tuesday as Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was gunned down while standing guard at the National War Monument in Ottawa, was honoured with a regimental funeral in his hometown.

Cirillo's funeral procession arrived at Christ's Church Cathedral in just before noon as thousands of onlookers stood silently in the streets to pay their respects to the young soldier. Cirillo's mother Kathy sobbed as she was helped to her seat by members of her son's regiment, overcome with grief as his flag-draped casket was carried inside.

Cirillo's young son, Marcus, followed behind his father's casket, wearing the regiment's cap.

[. . .]

The church was full of politicians, members of the military and friends and family of the 24-year-old. Outside, thousands of Hamiltonians stood almost motionless and quiet in the streets, watching the procession of an estimated 4,500 military members as well as police and emergency service members as it moved through downtown Hamilton.

'He understood. He knew what he was protecting and what he was preserving.'—Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Not far away at FirstOntario Centre, several hundred attendees filled three sections of the arena as overflow seating to watch the service on large screens. Inside the arena, people sat, stood, recited prayers and followed the service in the same was as if they were inside the cathedral.