An Image I Wish to Recall this September 11th./2008

At about 9 a.m. on September 11th. 2001, the whole world knows what happened.

One of the results of this sudden attack was that all flights, bound for the USA, many halfway across vast oceans, were denied access to US airspace. This was for security reasons, obviously, as four planes had already been shown to have been commandeered as missiles.

The resulting destruction of human life, property and , most of all, of the sense of security that Americans had convinced themselves was permanent following the previous debacle on this scale, Pearl harbor, was shattered.

Despite all the images of the destruction from that day that are chosen each year to represent 9/11, I choose the following one, when I want to recall that day.It represents both the worst and the best of humanity.

HALIFAX, NS AIRPORT 9/11/2001

Here you see 45 large jetliners parked, wing to wing and nose to tail, on tone of the intersecting runways at the airport in halifax, Nova Scotia. All received the call that day that the airspace 'door' to the USA was shut.

Over 7000 passengers suddenly landed, one plane load after the other, at this oceanside Nova Scotian airport.

All were soon to be thrown into shock and fear whenn they finally were able to discover the reason for their unexpected arrival in Canada.

Emergency contingents were immediately thrown into place but even they could not properly deal with this huge influx of passengers from all over the world. There just weren't the accommodations for so many people.

Soon a massive tidal wave of generosity began to take place as thousands of Nova Scotians, without question or thought, opened their homes to these people, many distraught.

Over the next few days passengers were treated to the best of Canadian hospitality. Most of these will never forget the warmth and comfort that they received from complete strangers. many would return to visit with their Canadian host families and many a Nova Scotian family would travel by invitation to visit with their American guests in their homes across the USA.

Out of a tragedy individuals helped individuals , thanklessly. In fact the US Government, under George Bush, was embarrassingly slow to recognize the massive contribution that allowed these 45 plane loads of passengers to find a haven of safety at a very difficult time.

I'm proud to be a fellow Canadian.

They asked for no thanks.