Peace Garden ceremony at Canada-U.S. border marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
Hundreds gathered at the International Peace Garden to remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks in a ceremony that also affirmed close bonds between Canada and the United States.
On Friday, a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place in a remote corner of the Prairies, marking the International Peace Garden's role as a symbol of the Canada-U.S. bond. Firefighters from southern Manitoba marched to the beat of a bagpipe at the park straddling the border between Canada and North Dakota.
Salvaged beams from the collapsed World Trade Center are now part of the garden's permanent memorial to the attacks, which occurred 25 years ago. Jason Shaw, a deputy fire chief in Winnipeg, recalled how communities and nations came together on September 11, 2001, and spoke of love and compassion shown to neighbors during a time of darkness.
First Lieutenant J. Nathan Haugen, a U.S. Air Force officer, concluded the ceremony with a prayer, describing the garden as a place of enduring fellowship and the "sacred steel" of the salvaged beams as a testament to resilience, courage, and sacrifice. He thanked the Lord for the unbreakable bond between the two nations that transcends division.
High school students in attendance, unfamiliar with the events of 9/11, expressed their appreciation for hearing the stories and learning more about the day. Audrey Emerson, the North Dakota contestant for this year’s Miss Teen USA pageant, said the ceremony provided a new perspective on the anniversary. Mae Streich, a retired auditor from Bottineau, North Dakota, had attended every 9/11 ceremony at the garden and emphasized the importance of remembering the past to move forward.
She praised Canada for its instrumental role in making the memorial possible and expressed sadness at the current Canada-U.S. trade war.
Terry and Kathy Harder, marking their 55th wedding anniversary, joined the ceremony. Kathy Harder noted that it was hard to separate the significance of 9/11 from the broader significance of the day for many people. Despite the current trade tensions, she believed it was essential to mark the day with so many people present.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
