Ottawa shooting: Thousands of mourners gather at funeral of Corporal Nathan Cirillo

Corporal Cirillo was shot as he stood as a ceremonial guard at Ottawa's National War Memorial

Soldiers carry the coffin into the church during the funeral for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in Hamilton. (REUTERS/Fred Thornhill )

Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Hamilton, Ontario, today to pay their respects outside the funeral of the soldier who was shot dead in the Canadian capital of Ottawa last week.

Corporal Nathan Cirillo, 24, was gunned down as he stood as a ceremonial guard at Ottawa's National War Memorial.

Near Christ’s Church Anglican Cathedral in Cirillo's home town, people holding Canadian flags and balloons carrying the iconic Maple Leaf stood by as the soldier's body was carried atop a gun carriage, the National Post reported.

Hundreds of floral tributes were left on the steps of Lt.-Col. John Weir Foote armoury, while others left toys and treats for Cirillo’s dog.

One message at the site read: “Reservist Cpl, Nathan Cirillo — we will never forget your sacrifice."

Cirillo's coffin, draped in the Canadian flag, was led into the church by his colleagues from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders unit, who were dressed in ceremonial kilts, white boots and garters.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper led tributes at the regimental funeral of the father-of-one, and told those gathered in church that Cirillo had united Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks at the regimental funeral service (Image: EPA)

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“Nathan, your death was not in vain. Because of you this day, this great country of Canada stands more unified and more determined than ever to be all that we are called to be. A place of freedom, a place of hope, a place of peace,” he said.

“May time ease the searing pain of today," the Prime Minister said before addressing Cirillo's 5-year-old son.

"And may his son, young Marcus Daniel Cirillo, some day find comfort in the fact that our entire country looks up to his dad with pride, with gratitude with deep abiding respect,” Harper said before pausing to collect his emotions.

“Corporal Nathan Cirillo knew the most precious values are those that can cost us our lives so may God bless Cpl. Nathan,” added the Conservative leader. “We are better for his life and we are diminished by his loss.”

Echoing the Prime Minister's words in a homily, Reverend Rob Fead called Cirillo “Canada's son” and said the tragedy of his death helped bring the country together.

“We gather this day in faith and in hope,” Fead told mourners. “His bravery, his sacrifice, is not in vain.”

Nathan's mother Kathy Cirillo is comforted in front of the coffin of her son (Image: EPA)

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Queen Elizabeth, who as head of the Commonwealth is Canada's head of state, sent a message to Cirillo's regiment, expressing sorrow at his death under such "grievous" circumstances.

Cirillo is to be buried in an area that honors military personnel at a Hamilton cemetery on Tuesday.

During the attack on 22 October, Cirillo had stood unarmed on ceremonial watch at the nation's war memorial in the capital of Ottawa when he was allegedly shot dead by 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau - a man described as troubled and addicted to drugs.

His attacker then charged into the Parliament building and exchanged fire with security officers not far from a room where Harper was meeting with fellow Conservative politicians.

Additional reporting by AP and Reuters