submitted by Jill Sturdy, Municipality of NG
Mayor Nancy Peckford issued the following statement on Firefighters’ National Memorial Day:
On Sunday, September 10, 2023, the Municipality of North Grenville recognized Firefighters’ National Memorial Day, a day to pay tribute to the firefighters who risk their lives keeping Canadians safe. It is also a day to honour and remember those firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Government of Canada established Firefighters’ National Memorial Day in 2017. This day is recognized annually on the second Sunday of September to commemorate the courage, selflessness, and unwavering commitment of all Firefighters who, whether current or past, have stepped up time and again to serve our community.
We take this opportunity to honour the over 300 firefighters who died in the deadly terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in New York City. We also want to honour and recognize the firefighters who died this past spring during the flooding in Quebec, and battling the wildfires this summer in BC and the Northwest Territories.
On behalf of Council and our community, I also want to thank our volunteer firefighters closer to home in North Grenville for their dedication and service.
We understand the physical and mental toll on firefighters, and the stress borne by their families. We also know that some make the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in the line of duty.
I invite all residents to take a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifice of these brave individuals throughout the country and the world.
Given the significance of the occasion and to honour their dedication to public safety, flags at the Municipal Centre and Fire Hall were lowered to half-mast.
