Military bases in Iraq to be named after fallen soldiers Vincent and Cirillo

TORONTO – The Canadian Armed Forces will name two operating bases in Iraq after Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo who were killed in violent attacks last month.

The Department of National Defence made the announcement Monday saying members of the Canadian Forces deployed in Operation IMPACT decided to rename the bases to commemorate Vincent and Cirillo, as well as all soldiers who died while serving their country in Canada.

One of the locations, an air force base in Iraq, will be named “Camp Vincent,” and an operations base for the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command will be named “Patrol Base Cirillo,” the department said in a statement.

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READ MORE: Deadly homefront attacks sharpens Remembrance Day focus

“The tragic deaths of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo have saddened all those who wear the uniform,” said Lt.-General J.H. Vance, a commander with the Canadian Joint Operations Command, in a statement. “The naming of Patrol Base Cirillo and Camp Vincent will allow personnel deployed to those areas – as well as allies who visit the installations – to mark the passing of two proud Canadians, and all those who died in the service of their country on home soil.”

The Department of National Defence said the renaming of “Camp Vincent” and “Patrol Base Cirillo”  coincides with Remembrance Day.

Warrant Officer Vincent, 53, was killed in a targeted attac on Oct. 20 after being struck with a car in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Que. Two days later, 24-four-year old Cpl. Cirillo was shot and killed by a lone gunman while guarding the National War Memorial in the nation’s capital.