From Canada with love

The memorial service on Parliament Hill has ended. I'd like to share a couple of thoughts.

The crowd was estimated at 75,000 people, covering and overflowing the Hill. Canadians stood in great numbers to weep for our friends.

This is only the fourth time in history that a national day of mourning has been declared and the first time for someone other than a national leader.

After the service, a young Boy Scout interviewed on TV said he was there to stand up for the kids who had lost their parents. Even the commentators had to struggle to keep their voices steady after that.

I myself wept freely, though I lost nobody in the disaster. Please accept my deepest condolences and spirit of solidarity.

God Bless all our Canadian Neighbors.

thank you Janet, this is hard on the whole free world, not just Americans.

JanetR, I wept through the service at the US National Cathedral... first time I have been able to cry and I welcomed the tears, though I lost nobody in the disaster either.

Thank you for your words, and feelings.

Every time I think I can't cry anymore I read more..I'm wrong. I can cry. And I don't think I'm done crying either. Thank you ever so much for the feelings from our northern friends,,Canada.

I lost it when they began "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".

"eyes'

I also did not lose anyone in this horrific disaster. But my heart goes out to each & every one of you. Every day when you see another husband or wife or friend interviewed & they speak of their loved one calling them just to say goodbye, the tears start all over again. It is very hard for me to fathom how anyone can have so little disregard for the human life & all of the innocent people that died needlessly.

Hang tough my Southern neighbours. You will come through this & you are in the thoughts & prayers of many, many people worldwide.

Thank you neighbor'Sis'

Darius, you and I seemed to have the same experience today. I have had many tears...but not an actual out and out cry, until the service at the National Cathedral. It is something that moved me deeply. I will never forget it. The words, the songs...the seemingly unending bell tolling...made me cry harder than I did when I was going thru my divorce, years ago. I couldn't seem to stop crying.
I do however wish they would stop showing the towers coming down, and that lady screaming "oh my God"...I dont know how much more I can take.
I am proud of my country. My heart goes out to those who mourn, are hurting, the orphaned children...and yes...I found out many other countries lost their citizens as well. Hearing of what other countries did, and seeing some of it on television also was an overwhelming experience for me. I feel emotionally and physically drained. Now on tv they are playing John Lennon's "Imagine"...that reminds me of another event I'll never forget. I am ready for a love in ...not a hate in...I think our Lord is too! Peace be with you all...my sisters and brothers on this board.

I feel for all the American families that have lost someone in this terrible tragedy that affects the whole free world as well as the US. I also feel very proud of all the volunteers that are contributing to the search, the donating of blood and money, etc etc. (the list could go on and on). I, like many other people, have cried many times in the last few days just thinking about the pain and suffering that has happened and what our world is going to be like in the future. It is a scarey thought.
But I also want to make mention that Canada has also lost people in that terrible unthinkable act. There has not been near as many Canadians as Americans lost but I feel, that as a Canadian that I have to pay respect to them as well. There were two Canadians on the planes and many more that worked in the Trade Centre. I am proud to see Canadians flying their flags at half mast(myself included) out of respect for the American losses. I also have seen many many places that are flying the American flag along side the Canadian flag. It would be great if we could see the Canadian flag along side the American one that is seen on this site in respect for the Canadians that lost their lives or family.

I hope that the future of the whole world is going to better than what we see it being at this moment.

Brenda
Proud to be a CANADIAN and a NORTH AMERICAN!!!!

I've been feeling the same way as all of you. The service today at the National Cathedral almost did me in. I feel so badly for all who have lost friends and loved ones. It eats at me to see people with pictures desperately searching for their loved ones.

Thank you for the words of comfort. It is nice to know that there are people out there who do not see us only as the enemy. I was especialy lifted seeing the Brits on the news singing our National Anthem and the Battle Hymn of the Republic, that brought tears too.

Truly in the long run, we have all lost. At least a portion of our freedom is being denied. I feel so angry about all of the fear that is being felt by so many, especially the little ones who do not yet understand the hate. We have also lost some of our sense of trust.

Thanks for listening. I keep finding myself needing to vent.

God bless you all, and God Bless America

Kimmer

Janet you did lose someone. Your people, you love. We do love our American people. On those planes could have any one of us, who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I am in mourning , we all are. Canada has been wonderful. Thankyou CANADA for all you have done.

Michele, I did have to do some frantic phoning. I have a brother in Manhattan (fortunately in a different part of town) and my husband is in Pennsylvania.

Kelly, I agree with you about showing the images. I am now at the point where I close my eyes and turn my head. Enough is enough.

And FWIW, the estimates of the crowd on Parliament Hill have been upgraded to 100,000. In pictures on TV it is a sea of people covering every available space and spilling into surrounding streets. And the three minutes of silence was almost universally observed in Canada, in schools, living rooms, shopping malls, workplaces, even subways! Bus drivers pulled over and stood with bowed heads. Commemorative services were held coast to coast.

Though you've all heard that Canada received diverted flights, you may not be aware that we had to totally shut down all our own air traffic to do so. Some small airport towns saw their populations double with the unexpected influx of stranded travellers. In at least one case, overworked security personnel were unable to screen the luggage, and local residents donated clothing and other necessities - this in a town of about 10,000.

In the meanwhile, streams of Canadian volunteers - paramedics, doctors, nurses, firefighters, you name it - have been converging on New York, usually on their own initiative. I don't know if this is getting any coverage in the US, but they are there.

I have been unable to donate blood, because there is such a deluge of donors that phone lines to set up appointments are clogged.

Just thought you'd like to know you're getting more than moral support.