Today is the national day of mourning for the disaster in America, here in the Netherlands (and throughout the EU I believe)
It really is an impressive sight. American flags hanging half-mast throughout the streets, at 12 o’clock 3 minutes of silence were held throughout the country. Buses and trains just stopped for 3 minutes. In some areas it was like putting a video on pause. Everybody just stopped driving and walking or got off their bicycles and just stood there being silent and thinking about it for 3 minutes. There was just this eery silence, nothing moving, everybody giving their thoughts and prayers to the victims and relatives.
It is also a National Day of Mourning in Canada, and several of us are attending a prayer gathering and rally in City Hall Square here in Windsor. We are taking our instruments and will play officially or unofficially Amazing Grace at this gathering. But we will play it!
It takes so long to cross the border now (up to five hours for personal cars) that the Gaelic League in Detroit - once a fifteen minute trip from Windsor has cancelled the festival. But we all wanted to be with our friends, who are family in almost every sense of the word. It’s heart breaking and fustrating that we can’t share these moments personally with them.
May our Lord Bless us all. They assume now that up to 500 Canadians were lost in World Trade Center.
I like to report that on our national news agency, a church in Nunuvat (in the high Arctic) held a church service Wednesday night and they sang Amazing Grace in their native language and the gathering was crying. Most having never been out of the Arctic, let alone to a big city. We are becoming a truely global village.
What can we do? Stand Tall, Stand Strong, Stand Together. This was an act terrorism directed at the United States of America, but by the shear horror of it, it was directed at us, all here in the Western World. It was the WORLD TRADE CENTER that was attacked.
So I’m off to City Hall Square, in view of Detroit, one small mile away across once a narrow river, might as well be an ocean for a while.
God Bless
Mark, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
[ This Message was edited by: MarkB on 2001-09-14 09:36 ]
That is so wonderful to hear for us in America! The people who did this terrible act in our country are getting the exact opposite of what they hoped to accomplish. Instead of fear and defeat they are getting strength and unity all over the world!
Yes. Thank you all for your love and support. This is something we must take on as a World, not just a country.
“Oh thus be it ever when free men shall stand
between their loved homes and the war’s desolation…”
God Bless.
Tom
This morning I was watching the news
and they broadcast scenes from Europe, scenes of the thousands there sharing our tragedy.
What moved me most
was the Church service in England,
attended by the Queen,
the place was packed,
thousands were standing outside in respect.
They sang The Star Spangled Banner,
to have so many of our good neighbors
share in our national anthem,
truly touches the spirit of America
and this American in particular.
To all of our good neighbors
supporting us in this tragedy,
thank you, it is apprecitated.
Looking to the day
when we can just enjoy our music,
Lee Marsh.
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2001-09-14 12:31 ]
The show of support from the rest of the world is such a great comfort. Thank you all.
Mary
Support from the world, in pictures:
Avanutria,
Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures. They made Mark and Llhorian’s word of compassion and support even more touching.
God Bless,
Amy
A very slow-loading site, but worth it. Thanks