WATCH ABOVE: CFL tribute to fallen soldiers culminates with thousands singing ‘O Canada.’
Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium roared with thousands of voices before the Alouettes vs. Redblacks game Friday as CFL fans sang the national anthem to honour two fallen soldiers, killed this week in separate attacks.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and members of the Canadian Armed Forces came out onto the field before the game to pay tribute to Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.
Vincent, a Warrant Officer whose role was to help injured and sick veterans and soldiers, was run over by a car in an attack in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC.
Cirillo was shot dead while guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Procession carrying fallen soldier Cpl. Cirillo departs down Highway of Heroes
Players from both teams – the Montreal Alouettes and the Ottawa Redblacks – bowed their heads while the entire stadium, packed with thousands of fans, observed a moment of silence.
The announcer then urged the crowd to sing ‘O Canada’ together.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, we ask that you raise your voices together as one and sing in defiance of terror and in honour of warrant officer Vincent and Cpl. Cirillo, our national anthem,” he said. “There is no soloist – this is our solute.”
READ MORE: Penguins play ‘O Canada’ to honour those affected by Ottawa shooting
Following the attack in Ottawa on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins played Canada’s national anthem before taking on the Philadelphia Flyers, The Canadian flag was projected onto the rink at Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center as the anthem played.
Comments