I wasn’t in or anywhere near New York City on September 11, 2001. I didn’t know anyone who was there and I didn’t lose any family or friends. But my hubby and I will always have a tie to that day.
Our wedding day was September 14th, 2001 — three days after 9/11. We woke up on the morning of our wedding to news that the Prime Minister of Canada had proclaimed September 14, 2001 a National Day of Mourning. Our Master of Ceremonies was in Germany and unable to fly back to Canada for our wedding. My brother and his wife had planned to fly up from Pittsburgh, but had to drive up instead. We had two tickets to fly to Halifax the day after our wedding for our honeymoon in NS and PEI. But I was too scared to fly, especially because of the association between 9/11 and the airport in Halifax.
Flash forward eight years to September 11, 2009. Hubby and I were flying to Halifax to celebrate our anniversary at the same time the two planes hit the World Trade Center back in 2001. Things eerily coming full circle, in a way.
We originally planned to go to Peggy's Cove later on during our trip, but we decided to go the day we arrived in NS instead. About 1.5kms from Peggy's Cove, we saw a sign for the Swissair Flight 111 Memorial. Another eerie coincidence that on the 8th anniversary of 9/11, we were at the scene of another tragic plane crash.
Here are a few pictures I took at the memorial. The first explains the memorial, and the rest are pictures of the memorial and the Atlantic Ocean. It's too bad the sound of crashing waves can't come through the computer screen — they really add to the drama of the memorial site and remind you of the power of the ocean...
After much thought, hubby realized that the three slots in the stone likely represent the number of the flight – 111.
The clouds couldn’t have been more perfect…
I was so goosebumpy seeing the Swissair Flight 111 Memorial, and the coincidences between September 11, 2001 and September 11, 2009. Tragic events that we’ll never forget, both because of the impact they had on the world and because of the ties my hubby and I have to 9/11.
Love this post, Kelly. Sometimes its hard to write about these kinds of things. Beautiful photos - I've never seen the memorial before. My father was an investigator for that crash... it will always be close to my family, too.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to see connections and the meaning they give our lives. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteMy BIL was at the Pentagon, but was uninjured, but he was not on his side of the building that day. My sister's roommate in college lost her father on that flight.
That so kind that Canada mourned as well.