September 11, 2020
On Friday a procession of vehicles drove from Tsawwassen Mills in Delta, B.C., to the Peace Arch border crossing with the United States to honour those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks centred on New York 19 years ago.
The procession consisted of about 100 motorcycles, two fire trucks, two ambulances and nine police vehicles.
The annual 9/11 Memorial Ride usually concludes at Peace Arch Park where hundreds of Canadian and American police, firefighters, paramedics, dignitaries and citizens join for a memorial ceremony and barbecue.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the small procession turned around once they reached the border and returned to their starting point in Delta.
The founder of the event, Guy Morrall, was hosting two friends from California on Sept. 11, 2001, when the tragedy occurred. With the border being closed, there wasn’t much they could do to help so the three of them decided to go for a motorcycle ride to keep busy. Morrall decided to make this a tradition.
In 2002, on the first anniversary of 9/11, Morrall visited New York City, rode in their memorial procession and listened to the stories of people who lived through the tragic event.
The following year Morrall started a small memorial procession in Canada and by the 10th anniversary, there were about 500 people from Canada and the United States in attendance.
Although no one in the procession on Friday was in New York during 9/11, Morrall says that everyone was emotionally affected by the event.
Next year will be the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and Morrall is expecting a large turnout from Canadians and Americans.
Americans are often surprised by this Canadian memorial for 9/11 victims, says Morrall, but he doesn’t think it should matter where someone is from or what they look like.
"They're our neighbours,” Morrall says.
