A Port Coquitlam middle school student is showing his city that when you care enough about something, you can take a stand.
Since last Friday, that's what Jackson Reid has been doing - standing.
He has been standing vigil for an hour or two each day in front of a memorial that has sprung up at the cenotaph in front of PoCo city hall.
Even in the wind and the rain, the 2893 Seaforth army cadet has been honouring Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was shot and killed at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Oct. 22, and Reid, who attends Citadel middle school, has no plans on stopping.
In fact, he plans to continue his memorial for the Canadian reservist each day for up to an hour after school until Remembrance Day.
Reid said it's his way of dealing with the tragedy that struck Ottawa last Wednesday, when a gunman shot and killed the young father, and the 13-year-old said he's pleased that other PoCo citizens are supporting his efforts (one reader called the Tri-City News to make it known that the treats she dropped off were for the young cadet and not passersby).
"There were only six flowers and now there's about 30," Reid said. "I find it very awesome,"
He has been getting a lot of attention for his daily observance. Mayor Greg Moore even interviewed him and put the video on YouTube, and Reid said his middle school friends think it's funny that he's getting all this attention.
But Reid acknowledged it's not easy standing still for long periods of time. He event fainted when his blood sugar was low last Saturday, and has been fighting a cough.
He gets through the ordeal by thinking about Cirillo and the army reservist's family, and will also sing songs in his head, parody songs mostly, to keep himself occupied.
"I feel sad but I kind of feel happy considering when he did die, he died while in service. And even though he died, which is sad, he did it for his country."
It's not the first time the young cadet has done a good deed for others. His mother Heidi Roggero Reid said it's in her son's character to be a good citizen; for example, he helped lead a food and toy drive at his former elementary school.
"I'm proud of him for sure, especially on Saturday, when he was having difficulties standing and was swaying on his feet."
What keeps him going, she said, is the support from others. "It's the kudos he's getting that are pulling him through."
Reid says he has other motivations and maybe his action will inspire others. "Excellence is not optional," he said. "You have to go far beyond what you can expect what you can do."
