'We will never forget': Calgarians commemorate 20th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks
Saturday marked 20 years since the world watched transfixed as planes hijacked by terrorists collided with the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and changed the world as we now know it.
A couple hundred Calgarians gathered to commemorate that fateful day in a special ceremony at The Military Museums, which honoured the 2,977 people who lost their lives in the attacks, including 24 Canadians.
David Peabody, who served an operational tour with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan and works as the museum’s director says it is his honour to never lose sight of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“It's important for people to really keep touch with the human consequence and the tragedy,” he said.
“We will never forget. People have connections to individuals, everybody's got a story that remembers that day, but it's those who are directly affected by the event that we have to remember, he said.
Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth also presented an emotional speech, noting that this is a day to remember the 343 firefighters who sacrificed their lives in the tragedy.
“This kind of impact just stays with you forever,” Dongworth said.
“With it being 20 years ago, we have firefighters now who we're young folks at the time who perhaps don't even have a perspective of 9/11, so I think it's important to sustain that memory. It becomes so much more meaningful when you read out the actual names of people who gave their life, their ranks, the trucks they rode on to that call, and their ages.”
Dongworth says all fire stations in Calgary took time in their day to hold special parades and read out the names of all fallen first responders.
Premier Jason Kenney and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi also made remarks at the ceremony.
U.S. CONSUL GENERAL REFLECTS ON PENTAGON ATTACK
Several foreign dignitaries attended the ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, including Holly Waeger Monster, who recently took over as U.S. Consul General of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories.
Monster was working with the U.S. State Department in Arlington, Virginia on Sept. 11, 2001, where she was completing an orientation class for new hires.
Suddenly, she heard a loud explosion. It was the sound of a plane colliding with the Pentagon building nearby.
“I could smell and see the smoke from the Pentagon. The louder sounds we heard were actually from when the wall of the Pentagon collapsed,” she said.
Monster adds that the heroic acts of the first responders that day were what stuck with her most. She particularly now values how the attacks have further united both Canadians and Americans.
“The Canadians really just opened up their hearts and their arms to the world that day. Over 200 airplanes that were in the air landed in Canada because they couldn't enter the United States, people in Canada opened up their homes to welcome those passengers when there wasn’t anywhere else to go.”
AFGHAN NATIONAL REMEMBERS 9/11 ATTACKS
Kawa Aahangar lived and worked in Afghanistan during the turbulent years of the War on Terror as a political scientist, writing about elections and involving himself in media broadcasts.
He moved to Calgary three years ago and now provides his personal perspective on the commitment and sacrifices made by Canadians that have had a positive impact on his family.
Unfortunately, Aahangar says the situation in Afghanistan is now much worse than it was in 2001, noting that the Taliban are getting smarter, becoming more violent and using social media and technology to control the people.
“The reason I'm here today is because we are still suffering in Afghanistan from the people who caused 9/11,” he said.
“So please support the resistance of the people of Afghanistan against the Taliban. Support those brave women who stood against the Taliban and are going through the streets of Kabul and Iraq with all those brave young people.”
Aahangar spoke to Calgarians at The Military Museums Saturday to share his insights of Canadian Forces, while also highlighting the new Mission: Afghanistan exhibit.
The exhibit opens with footage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and the covers Canada’s mission including Kandahar, deployment logistics and the consequences of friendly fire.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.