A few friends have been sharing their stories of where they were and how they reacted when they learned of the attacks on the World Trade Centre towers.
On September 11, 2001, I slept in. I had a late night before and awoke shortly after 10 a.m. to the sounds of dance music on the local dance radio station in Hamilton, Ontario.
After the song, the announcer said that the Red Cross had set up a toll-free number for those affected “by the tragic events in Washington and New York.”
At this moment, my landline phone rang. My grandmother was saying how much she loved me and asked me to promise to write her. I was confused and asked what was going on. She told me to turn on the television.
I did.
The visual sent a chill up my spine – moments later, I realized that NATO was under attack and Canada was at war. Only 10 weeks earlier, I swore an oath to protect my nation.
I immediately told my grandmother I would write, that I loved her, and that I needed to get moving.
Within minutes, I was in my military uniform. I unplugged everything in my apartment – who knew when or if I would be back again.
I spent the rush of the day at the local Armouries preparing for who knew what.
There’s not much else to the story, I was merely a Private prepared to do as I was ordered.