Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 14/01) - There was an overwhelming sense of wonder from city residents Thursday as they asked how such a horror so far away could seem so close to home.

Karen Pryznyk was among many Yellowknifers who turned out to show support for those who are lost, and those who lost others, in the suicide bombings in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo

From the first news reports of jetliners slamming into New York's World Trade Centre, a growing sense of proximately seemed to encompass all of Yellowknife.

It is why one young resident decided to call the city together to remember those who lost their lives in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania last Tuesday, and reflect upon the significance the date Sept. 11 will carry from now on.

"Even though we're very far away, I want them to know that our hearts go out to them and support them," said Nancy MacNeil, a 17-year-old Sir John Franklin high school graduate.

She said she felt a need to organized yesterday's memorial at City Hall for the victims of the terrorist attacks that may have claimed more than 5,000 people, possibly including scores of Canadians.

Even though MacNeil had less than two days to organize the event, more than 100 people turned out -- a testimonial to what Mayor Gord Van Tighem called Yellowknifers' "deep concern" over the tremendous loss of life that day.

"The world has been shrinking for years, and it just got incredibly smaller on Tuesday," Van Tighem said at the opening of his speech during the memorial.

Several speeches were made, including those by fire chief Mike Lowing, Capt. Al Hoeft of the Salvation Army, and MLA Jake Ootes.

The message seemed to remain the same for all of them -- the pain felt a continent away had struck a needle through the heart of everyone present.

"I lived through two wars already in Viet Nam," said corner store owner Loc Nguyen, who has friends in New York. "This brings back bad memories."