“We have entered the third millennium through a gate of fire. If today, after the horror of 11 September, we see better, and we see further — we will realize that humanity is indivisible. New threats make no distinction between races, nations or regions. A new insecurity has entered every mind, regardless of wealth or status. A deeper awareness of the bonds that bind us all — in pain as in prosperity — has gripped young and old. In the early beginnings of the 21st century — a century already violently disabused of any hopes that progress towards global peace and prosperity is inevitable — this new reality can no longer be ignored. It must be confronted.”
~ Kofi Annan ~
Nine years ago, our neighbours, the United States of America had their hearts ripped out. I was in New York twice that summer, my first visit since first being in New York in December of 1970. My last visit was in late July of 2001 just a few weeks before the twin towers were destroyed. The World Trade Center Plaza was always full of tourists and office workers taking time out in the beautiful surroundings. I had friends at the UN in New York and it was impossible to contact them after the attack. They were safe but the UN building was in lock down and they eventually made it back to the Upper East side where they lived.
Ottawa had a memorial ceremony on September 15th just a few days after the attack. Canadians were shocked and in those many days after the attacks we welcomed stranded American travelers until they were able to resume their journeys home.
To our American neighbours, and the amateur radio operators who provided comms during the days and weeks following the attacks “We remember September 11th, 2001”.
Link to memorial events taking place in New York City tomorrow, September 11th, 2001 >>
3 comments:
I too was in NYC walking around the World Trade Centre plaza in July of 2001 before flying to Japan to spend a month with my son, wife and extended family. I transited through O'Hare Sept 10th on the way back to Ottawa for my aunts funeral. Was eating breakfast at Ada's diner on Bank St with Eric Taada and talking to a Geophysicist from NRCAN who was telling us they use Quasars as a time-base for measuring Continental Drift via Very Long Base Interferometry when the news flash came over the radio... We certainly live in interesting times!
de VE3OCU
I was scheduled to fly to a customer site visit on 11 Sep 2001 at the WTC complex (although I'm not sure where... tower 7 I think), but on the 9 Sep I received a note that they wanted to reschedule.
So I cancelled my flight, and worked at home that day.
The appointment was never rescheduled.
de VE3OIJ
Thanks for your comments Doug and Darin. I haven't been back to New York since that fateful day. One of these days I hope to return to see Ground Zero.
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