At a moment when relations between Canada and the United States have been strained by a bruising trade dispute, the US Consulate General in Toronto hosted a moving commemoration marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

I was honored to be among the speakers. In my remarks, I reflected on what our two countries endured that day and what continues to bind us together, while highlighting the extraordinary example of Maureen Basnicki. Her husband, Ken, was one of the 24 Canadians murdered on September 11. In the years since, Maureen has transformed unimaginable loss into public service — helping change Canadian law and working to ensure that September 11 would become not only a day of remembrance, but a Day of Service.

These were my remarks:

Twenty-five years ago today, almost three thousand people were murdered in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Twenty-four Canadians were among them, including Ken Basnicki, who had travelled to New York for a business meeting and never came home to his wife Maureen and their children Erica and Brennan.

To the men who........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)