Dunseith, ND and Boissevain, MB – U.S. and Canadian firefighters, elected officials and other mourners will gather at the International Peace Garden on the U.S.-Canadian border at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, September 11, 2005 for the third annual memorial service to honor the thousands who died, including the 343 fallen firefighters who gave their lives, during the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Speakers will include North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, Manitoba Lieutenant Governor John Harvard, Federal Minister for the Treasury Board Reg Alcock, U.S. Consul to Canada Todd Schwartz and Lt. Michael Capasso of the New York City Fire Department and member of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York Local 94. Alex Forrest, president of the United Firefighters Association of Winnipeg, Local 867, will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The ceremony will also feature a fly-by from the North Dakota Air National Guard.
“This memorial service offers our IAFF brothers and sisters from across the U.S. and Canada a special opportunity to come together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during the greatest catastrophe in the history of the fire service,” says Harold Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Firefighters, which represents 270,000 firefighters across the United States and Canada. “The International Peace Garden offers the perfect setting for such a tribute, as the spirit of this place represents the dreams of first responders who work tirelessly every day to safeguard their communities across our two nations.”
The Garden’s 9/11 Memorial features steel girders transported from the World Trade Center, the only artifacts of their kind located outside the United States. The Garden offers several scenic views, including reflecting pools, more than 150,000 flowers and a Peace Chapel. Of particular interest are the 120-foot concrete Peace Towers on the site, which by chance were constructed before the events of September 11, 2001, and now represent an everlasting symbol of remembrance.
“By gathering at the International Peace Garden each year, our Canadian firefighters have a fitting location to share with their American brothers and sisters their grief and respect for those who gave their lives in order to save others,” says Forrest. “The beauty and tranquility of the garden allow IAFF members from each side of the border to reflect on their courage and commitment and inspire ourselves to show the same heroism in our daily lives.”
The International Peace Garden, established in 1932, is located on the U.S. and Canadian borders of North Dakota and Manitoba as a symbol of friendship. Devoted to World Peace, the 2,339-acre botanical garden lies along the world’s longest unfortified border. More than 150,000 tourists are attracted to the garden annually. The International Peace Garden is an affiliate area of the U.S. National Park Service. For more information, visit http://www.peacegarden.com.
