The son of the soldier fatally shot in Ottawa last month is the focus of a White Rock man’s latest fundraising efforts.
Clifford Grant said all proceeds from the sale of a framed, three-photo remembrance inspired by Cpl. Nathan Cirillo will be put in trust for five-year-old Marcus Cirillo.
The 24-year-old corporal was standing guard at the National War Memorial Oct. 22 when gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau opened fire. Zehaf-Bibeau was shot and killed by sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers soon after.
“When I was watching (Cirillo’s) funeral procession… going under that overpass, I just felt I wanted to do something,” Grant said.
“I may not be in the armed services… but I’m still a part of what goes on in Canada. This is one way to remember that.”
The 16-inch-by-34-inch keepsake features a photo of Cirillo, paired three times with photos from the Highway of Heroes funeral procession.
Each is to be put together from scratch – numbered, signed and dated – at GS & Company gallery, with approximately one-third of the $150 cost per remembrance (not including $40 for shipping, if necessary) to benefit a trust that has been set up for the junior Cirillo through the True Patriot Love Foundation. The balance covers the cost of supplies and framing, Grant said.
In 2007, the retired teacher and longtime Rotarian also launched the Support Our Troops campaign, a project focused on sending thousands of care packages to Canadian soldiers serving in or headed to the Middle East.
Funds from the remembrance will be designated for Marcus Cirillo’s education, Grant said.
For more information, call 604-542-0170 or email cliffordg@shaw.ca