This past Wednesday, a terrorist attack in Ottawa, Canada took the life of 25-year-old soldier Cpl. Nathan Cirillo who was standing guard at the War Memorial on Parliament Hill when he was brutally murdered (ala the Woolwich Barracks slaughter in London last year) by an Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist convert – a Canadian convert, no less. This horror came two days on the heels of another Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist attack in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 35 miles southeast of Montreal, Quebec, which took the life of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent when the crazed terrorist plowed his speeding car into Vincent in a murderous hit-and-run. Honoring the fallen soldier in Ottawa, Bruce MacKinnon, political cartoonist for the Halifax Chronicle Herald, created an emotionally powerful cartoon showing the fallen soldier being welcomed and comforted by the soldier statues he was protecting. Not surprisingly, Twitter erupted with support that immediately went viral, one person tweeting, “I think we can go ahead and give the 2014 National Newspaper Award for editorial cartoons to ‪@ch_cartoon.”

Ottawa, Canada, October 22, 2014Ottawa, Canada, October 22, 2014

FIRST RESPONDERS
Five people within the vicinity of the incident immediately ran to the aid of Cpl. Cirillo as the Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist fled in an automobile towards the Parliament Building, presumably (which turned out to be correct) in an effort to inflict more Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist death and mayhem upon Canada’s Members of Parliament who were meeting en masse in scheduled Caucus gatherings. As four of the first responders (complete strangers) worked in tandem awaiting the arrival of the paramedics and the ambulance – two on staunching the bleeding from the wounds, one elevating the corporal’s feet, another at his head talking to him and encouraging him – the fifth knelt down beside Cpl. Cirillo and began to pray, beginning with the Lord’s Prayer. She talked to Cirillo. He was conscious; his eyes were open, and he was staring straight ahead. She felt that he could hear her. “You’re a good man, you’re a brave man,” she told him. Someone said the soldier had stopped breathing. They began trying to find a pulse, one feeling his neck, one his wrist. Remarkably, everyone on the scene had First Aid or medical training. She moved to Cirillo’s head and talked to him, comforting him. “You are loved. Your family loves you. You’re a good man,” she told him. “Your family loves you. Your parents are so proud of you. Your military family loves you. All the people here, we’re working so hard for you. Everybody loves you. You are so loved,” she told Cirillo. “We’re all trying to help you.”

But Cpl. Cirillo died in the arms of the people working so hard to keep him alive.

PRIME MINISTER HARPER/MEMBERS of PARLIAMENT

 

“My fellow Canadians, for the second time this week there has been a brutal and violent attack on our soil … our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo of the Argyll and Sunderland Highlanders. Cpl. Cirillo was killed today, murdered in cold blood, as he provided a ceremonial honour guard at Canada’s National War Memorial, that sacred place that pays tribute to those who gave their lives so that we can live in a free, democratic and safe society … our thoughts and prayers remain also with the family and friends of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent who was killed earlier this week by an ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and Levant] inspired terrorist … we have also been reminded today of the compassionate and courageous nature of so many Canadians like those private citizens and first responders who came to provide aid to Corporal Cirillo as he fought for his life … who came quickly and at great risk to themselves to assist those of us who were close to the attack … let there be no misunderstanding: we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated. In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts … to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats and keep Canada safe here at home … and fight against the terrorist organizations who brutalize those in other countries with the hope of bringing their savagery to our shores … They will have no safe haven.”

SERGEANT-at-ARMS KEVIN VICKERS

 

He’s in his office; all hell’s breaking loose; there’s an insane Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist killer scouring the building. As Sergeant-at-Arms, keeper of security for the entire Parliament property, including the Members of Parliament who are all gathered in separate rooms conducting Caucus Meetings, he is responsible for their safety and wellbeing.  So he reaches for his gun, grabs it, walks quickly but calmly with instinctive authority out of his office, confronts the guy in the high-drama-style of “High Noon” and “Gunfight At The O.K. Corral”, measures him up and then pow! pow! pow! slugs him instantly to 72-virgins territory. Problem solved, blows the smoke away from his gun and authoritatively strolls back to his office to re-load, then makes his way to where the Prime Minister and his staff are holed up and barricaded in one of the meeting rooms. He informs them that “I engaged the suspect and the suspect is deceased”. Reluctant hero, just doing his job.  Man’s man. Didn’t call anybody first.  Didn’t consult a policy manual.  Didn’t call any insurance company to get the okay. Wasn’t a campaign donor stuck in some political-hack position that he was totally unqualified for.  He was a real guy and took his job, Sergeant-at-Arms, very, very seriously. How he held back the tears, I have absolutely no idea, but it was a standing ovation of massive proportions when you realize that dozens, or maybe even scores of these men and women of Canada’s Parliament could very easily have been gunned down 24 hours earlier had this hero not taken the action he did … A true “Sergeant-at-Arms” if ever there was one. He has certainly carved his name into the history of Canada … And as for that big, gold, scepter he carried? .. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore, God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” ~ Hebrews 1:8-9

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo Ottawa Canada October 22 2014

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, R.I.P
Ottawa, Canada, October 22, 2014

THE CONCLUSION of the MATTER (WHEN all is SAID and DONE)
If there’s arguably a better way to go off into the eternal presence of your Maker by guarding the sanctity of those comrades who’ve gone before you, then I’m struggling to think just what it might be. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” ~ John 15:13-14

From beginning to end of this short demonic physical skirmish brought on by a crazed Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist fully intent on going about the devil’s business, the content and meaning of the John verses just quoted shine forth like a beacon of light in an otherwise darkening world. First of all, Cpl. Cirillo himself “laying down his life” in the service of others, and passing into eternity in the loving arms of people who care. We have next, a clear example from those same five first responders, “laying down their lives” in a frantically desperate effort to save the life of Cpl. Cirillo. But Cpl. Cirillo died in the arms of the people working so hard to keep him alive. Moving on into the halls of Parliament, even as the armed police were scouring the building for the Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist, Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers made a split-second decision to “lay down his life for his friends” and went after the killer, and pow! pow! pow! slugs him instantly to 72-virgins territory. Problem solved. (For a rerun of the full account go here..) Next morning, a packed House of Commons “lay down their lives” by honoring the Sergeant-at-Arms (who undoubtedly saved their own lives by his unselfish action) with an extended standing ovation full of admiration and emotion. As Paul would explain it in II Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearance.”

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER – YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high,
and don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm, there’s a golden sky,
and the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on, through the wind, walk on, through the rain,
though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
and you’ll never walk alone, you’ll never walk alone
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone,

You’ll never walk alone.

Face of Jesus by Richard Hook

Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have:
for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:5-6

Sole` Deo Gloria!

Sources .. Full story in Halifax Chronicle Herald;   Full remarks of PM Stephen Harper;   CBC News Canada, on how Kevin Vickers subdued the Islamic Jihadist Muslim Terrorist