Place a plaque at the National War Memorial in memory of Corporal Nathan Cirillo

On one hand, my bias says yes. A small plaque, noting his loss at the site, would be a fitting and informative tribute.

The War Memorial is hallowed ground, memorialising the efforts of the many. I'd like it to not become a bulletin board of plaques for individuals, if we set the wrong precedent here.

Consider me torn.

Put his face on the $20. But I don't think we need a plaque. It's not like anybody is going to forget.

CDNBear said:

The War Memorial is hallowed ground, memorialising the efforts of the many. I'd like it to not become a bulletin board of plaques for individuals

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Your post sums it up. I just want to add that this memorial honours the unknown solider whether they are army, navy, air or merchant marine who died or may die for Canada in any conflict past, present, or future. A plaque would take away from what the memorial is.

grainfedpraiboy said:

Your post sums it up. I just want to add that this memorial honours the unknown solider whether they are army, navy, air or merchant marine who died or may die for Canada in any conflict past, present, or future. A plaque would take away from what the memorial is.

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The Tomb of the Unknown, is tantamount to being the Vatican in terms of hallowed places.

To me anyways.

SLM said:

How would you alter it? What would you suggest to be fitting? I'm just curious. I can fully appreciate the basis for the objection. I do think though when a death affects the entirety of a nation as his did, and given why he was there, I don't know, I'd like to see him acknowledged somehow, someway.

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I wouldn't alter it at all.

It is a weird thing our society does lately, you know..............road side memorials and small makeshift shrines for friends and family killed, ghost bikes to mark collisions, traffic fatality warning signs in cities etc. In the military we deal with death all the time. We train for it by always training two ranks above our current one in case we need to take charge in a situation should those around us be dying.

He will be remembered by his unit. He will be remembered on Remembrance Day. He wouldn't want to be immortalized at the War Memorial for sure and I know few soldiers who would ever want to be martyred in any way shape or form given some off the accomplishments of those who came before us. It's a hard concept to explain but trust me when I say no soldier wants his death singled out as more noteworthy than any other.

But I think the highway of heroes concept is fantastic and an incredible tribute.

SLM said:

I'm actually powerless to do anything.

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You have a lot of power, more than you realise.

For starters, few people attend Remembrance Day celebrations anymore and instead see this as another day for shopping. Turn up early and stay to completion. Chat with some vets, buy a round of cheap beers at the legion if you're well healed or let some vet buy you a drink and flirt with him or cry with him depending on the situation;

Go to the old folks home in your area. I guarantee there are half dozen Korean and WWII vets there no one visits anymore or cares about. It would mean the world to them if you took a little time and just sat down and listened to them. Remember, Cpl Cirillo is gone but life is for the living and these folks have been forgotten;

Write, badger and harass your local MP to keep our military commitments to a minimum. The soldier prepares for war but prays for peace. Sometimes we don't have a choice and have to send people to places like Afghanistan and sometimes we shouldn't be in places like Afghanistan if that makes any sense to you.;

Write a deployed soldier and ask him what he needs. For example I used to get people to send me batteries of all sizes and bubblegum. As much as possible as there was no such thing as too much. Batteries to give to locals so they could use flashlights and radios and gum for kids because a handful of bubblegum made those kids happier than any Canadian kid who just had a grand spent on him at Christmas. It's nice to know people back home care enough to help you out.

Volunteer with the local MFRC (military family resources centre) in his name or send a donation to the charity of his family's choice which should be on the obituary.

I think Cpl Cirillo would probably agree with me.

CDNBear said:

On one hand, my bias says yes. A small plaque, noting his loss at the site, would be a fitting and informative tribute.

The War Memorial is hallowed ground, memorialising the efforts of the many. I'd like it to not become a bulletin board of plaques for individuals, if we set the wrong precedent here.

Consider me torn.

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I agree - No plaque.

I'd sign as I think it's a great idea but last time I signed a feel good petition I started getting spam from a few lefty type orgs as well as telemarketer calls from others.
I don't give out my personal info even if it's a cause in which I believe.

CDNBear said:

On one hand, my bias says yes. A small plaque, noting his loss at the site, would be a fitting and informative tribute.

The War Memorial is hallowed ground, memorialising the efforts of the many. I'd like it to not become a bulletin board of plaques for individuals, if we set the wrong precedent here.

Consider me torn.

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I agree too, no plaque.