Prince George paid tribute to two fallen soldiers, killed in separate terrorist attacks last week, during a ceremony at the Cenotaph on Saturday.
The Rocky Mountain Rangers, Royal Canadian Legion, RCMP and Prince George Fire/Rescue Service - along with members of the public - laid a wreath and held a minute of silence for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.
"No one will ever forget the brutality that occurred," MLA Shirley Bond said during the ceremony. "When those gunshots echoed in the hallways [of Parliament]... there were people who ran towards the gunfire. We want to honour you today for running toward the area of conflict. Those of us who do not serve in that way would run the other way."
On Oct. 20 Vincent, 53, was run over and killed in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. in a deliberate attack by Martin Couture-Rouleau, who injured another solider in the incident.
Vincent was a former military firefighter working at the Integrated Personnel Support Centre, helping veterans and current military personnel deal with injuries, apply for government benefits and reenter the workforce.
Couture-Rouleau, 25, was shot dead by police after crashing his car in a high-speed pursuit, than rushing toward police with a knife.
On Wednesday Cirillo, 24, was shot twice from behind and killed while serving as an honour guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Cirillo was a reservist with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Hamilton, Ont. and single father to his young son.
The gunman, identified as 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, then stormed the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings where he was shot and killed.
Bond praised "the true Canadian spirit" that prompted five people -lawyer and former naval reservist Barbara Winters, nurse Margaret Lerhe, National Defence employee and former naval officer Martin Magnan, and two other soldiers on duty at the war memorial -to provide CPR and comfort Cirillo in his final moments, while Zehaf-Bibeau was still at large.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 43 branch president Bruce Gabriel and Lt.-Col. Kevin Tyler of the Rocky Mountain Rangers laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to honour the two fallen soldiers.
"It's just tragic," Gabriel said. "It's important for our whole community to support the people who have been lost."
If not for the quick action of Canada's Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers and others, he said, the toll of Wednesday's tragedy could have been much worse.
"Our men and women [in uniform], our first responders do this every day," Gabriel said. "It's everywhere now."
Gabriel said he feels particular sorrow for Cirillo's young son who now will grow up without his father there for him.
The memorial in Prince George was one of several held around the country, including in Ottawa and Montreal.
Gabriel said leading up to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, the Legion will be holding additional events to honour Canada's veterans and soldiers.
On Sunday Nov. 2 the Legion will hold a parade at the Memorial Park Cemetery, starting at 10:30 a.m.
Later that day, the Legion will host a Day of Remembrance honouring five local First World War veterans.
"It will be done in first person by Rocky Mountain cadets," he said. "It [will] kind of give you the shivers."
The Day of Remembrance starts at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Legion hall (1116 Sixth Ave.)
--With files from The Canadian Press
