Irricana is almost 4,000 kilometres from New York City, but its 9/11 memorial was no less emotional as EMS, firefighters and police officers around the county gathered to honour those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks.
“It’s imperative that we remember those who sacrificed their lives (that day) without hesitation,” said Judy Unsworth, chief of Rocky View Fire Services Station 56, who organized the memorial.
The ceremony began with a march down main street before ending at the town’s recreation complex. The ceremony included speeches by Unsworth, Airdrie RCMP Insp. Tony Hamori and a poem read by Rocky View’s deputy fire chief Perry Prete. Three minutes of silence were observed and the traditional 5-5-5-5 code was sounded, four sets of five rings on a fire department bell to signify a fallen firefighter.
Similar ceremonies were held worldwide to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks which claimed nearly 3,000 victims, including 77 Port Authority officers, 343 firefighters and 23 police officers. Twenty-four Canadians were among the victims.
Like many others, Unsworth, who’s been a firefighter for 15 years, remembers exactly where she was when she heard that a hijacked plane had hit the World Trade Center. Working in B.C. at the time, she flew home to Calgary the next day.
“It was the weirdest thing,” Unsworth said. “At the airport, it was the first time that people began paying attention to each other. People were just really anxious and walking up the aisles introducing themselves to the other passengers.”
This is the second year that Station 56 held a 9/11 memorial service.
Last year’s was on a smaller scale and included the members of the station holding a short service in front of the fire hall with a pre-recorded bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace and a brief moment of silence.
The plan was the same for this year until officers and firefighters from Rocky View County, Strathmore and Cochrane asked to be involved in the memorial.
“People thought the ceremony was very moving,” said Unsworth.
“I was just honoured that everyone came out. It happened in New York, but it affected all of us.”
