Marauders to honour Nathan Cirillo at Saturday’s game
McMaster's flags were lowered to half-mast on Wednesday in memory of Hamilton native Nathan Cirillo, who was shot and killed while standing guard at the National War Memorial. The Marauders football team will carry the flag of Cirillo's regiment, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, into Gee-Gee's field on Saturday.
The exact plan is still being formalized, but one key detail is certain — the McMaster Marauders football team will enter Ottawa’s Gee-Gees Field on Saturday carrying the flag of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.
The Marauders are slated to play the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees at 1 p.m., just three days after Hamilton native and Argyll reservist Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed while standing guard at the National War Memorial.
His body will return to Hamilton on Friday, after being transported along the Highway of Heroes.
Cirillo, 24, dreamed of a full-time career in the military, and joined the Argylls as a cadet at the age of 13. Cirillo and Marauders receivers coach Al Anonech both attended Sherwood Secondary School on Hamilton’s east Mountain, which sparked the initial idea for a tribute at Saturday’s game.
“Hamilton cares, McMaster cares, McMaster football cares,” Anonech told The Hamilton Spectator‘s Ken Peters. “You put yourself in their shoes and wonder what you can do to help them out. They put their lives on the line, even now in Canada. It’s something we want to do to support them.”
McMaster’s football team is currently 7-0, and are ranked third-overall in Canada.
Below: The regimental colour flag of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.
