On Sept. 11, the Peace Arch border crossing will transform itself from a dividing line between two nations into a symbol of what unites them.
“We’re celebrating those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and the fact we’re truly children of the common mother; though we are separate countries, that’s just an imaginary line going through the 49th parallel,” says Howard Blank, the Canadian chair of the 9-11 Memorial Ride and Service.
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Hundreds of emergency services and military personnel from both sides of the border will converge at the Peace Arch in a motorcade of motorcycles, fire trucks, police cars and ambulances. Among them will be five first responders who worked at Ground Zero after the World Trade Centre attacks in 2001.
They’ve been invited to attend the event to bring home the message that their neighbours to the north will always remember the sacrifices that were made that day.
“We’ve been doing it for five years now, bringing people from across America,” says Blank.
The organizing committee has been working hard to raise money to pay the five guests’ travel cost but still needs about $3,000 to pay the remainder of the flights.
They’ve set up a crowd-funding campaign on FundAid.ca. If they exceed their fundraising goal, any extra money will be given to Honour House.
The New West heritage home provides free temporary housing for first responders and their families while they receive medical treatment in Metro Vancouver. It has 10 private bedrooms and common spaces that include a large kitchen, living room and a media room.
"Over the last two years, we’ve had around 1,600 room nights, which is huge. Our annual operating budget is just under $200,000,” said Honour House Society president Al Degenova. “This is really their home away from home and there’s nothing like it out there.”
The ride itself is a little different this year. For the first time, Canadian and American emergency personnel will be leaving from two different locations, Richmond and Anacortes. The idea is to have the two motorcades meet in the middle at the border.
The public is invited to take part in the festivities at the Peace Arch. There will be a ceremonial march-in around 9 a.m., followed by speeches from government officials and refreshments in the park. For more information on the upcoming event, go to www.911memorialride. org. To donate to the crowd-funding campaign, visit FundAid.ca.
