A heartfelt and most interesting personal take. I can relate as 423 OpsO I got Sarah’s first call and was airborne an hour and a half later and flew 52 hrs that month in support of Persistence. It is indelibly burned in my mind and I shall never forget the experience and the experiences of those around me.
Thank you, Erin, for posting this today. There’s so much going on in the world today and indeed in Canada with the wildfires devastating communities in B.C. and the NWT that I fear the media is giving scant attention to the tragedy that enfolded on this day in 1998 off of Peggy’s Cove, N.S. Already four brave firefighters’ lives have been lost in the conflagrations. I am thinking how their fellow firefighters must have to deal with that mental trauma. Once again out CAF members have been called upon to join in battling the flames.
In all the years I have known you, I have heard you mention this event from time to time as a transformative one. And like many visitors to Peggys Cove I have visited the Swiss Air 1111 Memorial. This article though finally gave me an appreciation for what you faced and how you and the others managed it as you Served Canada.
I have read several of your items and I’m saddened by the thought that you never became Canada’s prime minister as I believe you would have been a very successful leader.
I had a client a few years back who assisted with the recovery effort. That person still has PTSD from the experience.
Whenever I read about an incident like this, it's the passengers' and crew members' moments *before* the moment of impact which haunt me the most. Thankfully, air crashes are rare and ones with fatalities even more so, but one such accident is too many.
Everyone is changed by trauma. Some it is very mild and passing, while others struggle for some time. Thankfully we are now aware of this and building resilience training and mental health first aid into organizations. This is very positive.
What a heartfelt review of the tragedy of Swiss Air and it’s impact on so many lives. I still recall meeting with the CCG in Charlottetown after their mission was over to thank them for their effort in such difficult circumstances and remember vividly the shock, sadness and tears from many as we went around that room. Some, I know, never returned to regular duties and I’m sure are impacted the rest of their lives. By the way, we are so fortunate to have Dr Jain providing emergency room service here on PEI. He was heading over for this 25th
Erin,
A heartfelt and most interesting personal take. I can relate as 423 OpsO I got Sarah’s first call and was airborne an hour and a half later and flew 52 hrs that month in support of Persistence. It is indelibly burned in my mind and I shall never forget the experience and the experiences of those around me.
JR
Was thinking about you and other folks today Major! Will hoist one later in your honour.
Thank you, Erin, for posting this today. There’s so much going on in the world today and indeed in Canada with the wildfires devastating communities in B.C. and the NWT that I fear the media is giving scant attention to the tragedy that enfolded on this day in 1998 off of Peggy’s Cove, N.S. Already four brave firefighters’ lives have been lost in the conflagrations. I am thinking how their fellow firefighters must have to deal with that mental trauma. Once again out CAF members have been called upon to join in battling the flames.
People that run towards danger or respond to traumatic events are some of our finest citizens. The fires are the latest example.
In all the years I have known you, I have heard you mention this event from time to time as a transformative one. And like many visitors to Peggys Cove I have visited the Swiss Air 1111 Memorial. This article though finally gave me an appreciation for what you faced and how you and the others managed it as you Served Canada.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks Tom.
I have read several of your items and I’m saddened by the thought that you never became Canada’s prime minister as I believe you would have been a very successful leader.
I had a client a few years back who assisted with the recovery effort. That person still has PTSD from the experience.
Whenever I read about an incident like this, it's the passengers' and crew members' moments *before* the moment of impact which haunt me the most. Thankfully, air crashes are rare and ones with fatalities even more so, but one such accident is too many.
Everyone is changed by trauma. Some it is very mild and passing, while others struggle for some time. Thankfully we are now aware of this and building resilience training and mental health first aid into organizations. This is very positive.
Erin
What a heartfelt review of the tragedy of Swiss Air and it’s impact on so many lives. I still recall meeting with the CCG in Charlottetown after their mission was over to thank them for their effort in such difficult circumstances and remember vividly the shock, sadness and tears from many as we went around that room. Some, I know, never returned to regular duties and I’m sure are impacted the rest of their lives. By the way, we are so fortunate to have Dr Jain providing emergency room service here on PEI. He was heading over for this 25th
Wayne Easter
Thanks Wayne. I sent the essay to Trevor and he was en route to the commemoration. Hope you are doing well!
A powerful story, wonderfully told.