What's New: Committee's Staff Purchases Print to Support Nathan Cirillo's Son
February 5, 2015
Bruno Hamel and Katerina Mertikas
On February 5th, in a small-scale but high on emotion ceremony organized at the Military Grievances External Review Committee offices in Ottawa, local artist Katerina Mertikas unveiled a print of her painting, Honouring My Father.
The painting is a tribute to Corporal Nathan Cirillo, the soldier who was shot to death on the morning of October 22, 2014 while he stood sentry at the National War Memorial - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The image shows Cirillo standing tall at the monument on a bright autumn day, being saluted by his young son, Marcus. The Committee's staff purchased one of the gallery-quality prints of the painting that are being sold through a local gallery to benefit the Marcus Cirillo national trust fund.
Honouring My Father is a salute to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo’s bravery and supreme sacrifice and a reminder of the enduring bond and love between a father and his son, said Bruno Hamel, the Committee’s Chairperson. We are grateful to Mrs. Mertikas for providing us with the opportunity to make our small contribution to support the Cirillo family.
While watching events unfolding on that fateful October day, Katerina Mertikas felt compelled to create. I picked up the first canvas within reach and I immediately started painting, she said. As a mother of two and a grandmother of four, as well as an artist whose paintings often depict children, she came naturally to the decision to also include the fallen soldier’s son in the piece. Children are very important to me and, as my heart was bleeding for little Marcus, I had to express those strong feelings in some way. And, in retrospective, as I see how children relate to the piece, I am very happy with my decision, Mrs. Mertikas added.
Most of all, I like the fact that my painting seems to be the starting point of a renewed conversation about the importance of the Canadian Armed Forces which makes our soldiers and veterans feel honoured and loved, the artist concluded.