Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues for their own memories.
That was 10 years ago, but, as my colleagues have already said, the tragedy had begun on October 20 with the murder of Patrice Vincent.
A lot of us were here that day. I really resonated with the words of our colleagues who remember that day. I remember, as the leader of the official opposition was saying, what it was like inside the Conservative caucus room. For those who never served in Centre Block, it is almost incredible to believe that through the unlocked doors of the reading room were the prime minister, the cabinet and the Conservative caucus. All of those doors on three walls opened outward. We could not lock them.
Across the hall, in the railway committee room, which, fortunately, had double doors, was the NDP caucus. As was just remembered by the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay, Alain Gervais of the protective service stood to guard those doors. Thank God it was a double door, because the bullet went through one door and lodged in the second one.
So many individuals showed so much courage. The unbearable murder of young Corporal Nathan Cirillo will stay with us always, as will the courage of Samearn Son, who, as I understand it from talking to people in those days, actually had the barrel of a gun against his chest and pushed it downward to where it fired into his leg and his foot. He protected all of us, unarmed.
Also, I remember friends in the Conservative caucus who had histories in law enforcement. David Wilks and Shelly Glover organized themselves within that room to protect their colleagues. There was heroism on all sides, bravery, courage and many tears, but there was never an inquiry. I will add now that it is never too late to actually look with fresh eyes at what happened and learn those lessons.
With that, I want to again thank our former Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers and resonate with what he has recently said in the media: Yes, there are still lessons to be learned.
God bless Canada. God bless everyone who, on that day, showed such courage.