Canada 9/11

Probably on Friday this week, the water cooler topic or the Starbucks discussion focused on what happened eight years ago that morning.

Perhaps the conversation led to the question, “Where were you when you heard or watched the events of 9-11 (2001)?” In our own quiet-mannered way, this is probably how most of us remembered that day and its victims.

In the names of those innocents who perished that day are 24 Canadians.

Twenty-four Canadians were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.   http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/09/07/1810996.html.

In addition to our own personal memories, we remember them also, in a public, understated manner which is characteristic of our nation:

Sept. 11, 2001, has lost none of its power or horror eight years later, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday at an emotional ceremony for Canadian victims of the terrorist attacks. "Our hearts reach out to the loved ones who are left behind," Harper said. "We know that you have suffered more than most of us can ever imagine.

"9/11 was a day of hate," he added. "Today, we weep, we mourn and we reflect. Let us pray that we heal."

The ceremony was held at the 9/11 memorial at Beechwood Cemetery, home of the national military cemetery [Ottawa]. It is a simple stone block with a brass plaque listing the names of the 24 Canadians who died when terrorists crashed two airliners into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre.      (By The Canadian Press, Friday September 11, 2009)

Like our American neighbour’s, our view of the world changed also. Today especially we feel a kinship with the Americans. Our casualties were few in number compared with the citizens the U.S.A. lost. But that does not change the fact that we mourn for the 24 individuals who went to work early that morning, expecting a normal workday ahead of them and never finished that day.

September 11 th has become another Remembrance Day for Canadians.