The memory of the Canadian soldiers killed in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec, is being honoured throughout Edmonton today.
On Wednesday, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed while standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, two days after Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was killed in a hit-and-run in a parking lot.
Flowers were laid at the cenotaph in front of Edmonton City Hall which was being guarded by two former soldiers who decided to take on the task themselves.
Retired Cpl. Eric Hjalmarson, a veteran of three tours in Afghanistan, called the incident in Ottawa “heart-wrenching.”
Retired Cpl. Eric Hjalmarson stood guard at the cenotaph in front of Edmonton city hall on Thursday. (CBC )
“It’s like driving a spike into your heart, you know?” he said.
“To see something like this happen, it’s very hard to take and people need to realize that there’s comes a time when you do have to stand up because freedom isn’t free.”
Flags were lowered to half-mast at the Alberta legislature and Government House at sunrise this morning and remain that way until sunset on Friday.
Flags will also be lowered at the McDougall Centre in Calgary, the Alberta Sheriff’s Training Academy in Edmonton and at provincial correctional facilities.
Security has also been increased at the legislature, Government House and the McDougall Centre. Public tours at the legislature were cancelled for a second day.
The city of Edmonton has announced that the lights of the High Level Bridge will be red and white on Thursday and Friday nights to honour Cirillo and Vincent.
All cadet activities are on hold in Edmonton and everywhere else in the country until Monday.
