A former U.S. marine has taken it upon himself to guard the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
Fox Sinke, who has dual citizenship, claimed to be standing guard for 'comrade in arms' Nathan Cirillo -- the reservist from Hamilton, Ontario who was shot and killed last month while guarding the memorial.
“There are those of us who understand what’s happening and we’re not gonna lie down for it,” he told Global News. “Not gonna happen. That’s basically why I’m here. I’m just here to make my own little personal damn statement.
“That’s how I see it. So I’m paying tribute to him, as best I can. We are not intimidated. Take your best shot.”
Sinke was seen in full military uniform, marching around the monument, a chest-full of medals bearing testament to a life of conviction.
According to the website Guardian of Valor, Sinke has earned those decorations.
"So we did some digging and reached out to our contacts to find out more about Major Sinke, and we can tell you that not only did this man serve as a Marine, he was a highly decorated Marine!"
Among them are five Purple Hearts -- a U.S. medal given out to soldiers wounded or killed while serving.
Sinke also authored a book on his experiences during the Vietnam War.
According to his biography, Sinke is married with three children and operates a horse ranch in Ontario. Farmers, he says in the bio, are "men who are of stalwart character and great integrity and as close as I will ever get to living among Marines again.”
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