Ceremony marks 102nd anniversary of the Halifax Explosion (4 photos)
Posted Dec 6, 2019 04:45:06 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A large crowd gathered at Fort Needham Memorial Park Friday morning to commemorate the events on this day 102 years ago.
Approximately 2,000 people lost their lives and another 9,000 were injured in the Halifax Explosion.
Thousands of buildings were also damaged and destroyed when the SS Mont-Blanc — fully-loaded with wartime munitions — blew up 20 minutes after colliding with the Norwegian ship SS Imo.
At the ceremony, Halifax Regional Municipality's deputy mayor Lisa Blackburn said it's a day of remembrance for the many acts of bravery as survivors struggled to help one another.
“Everybody knows the story of Vincent Coleman, the telegraph operator. He sent a message to stop the trains from entering Halifax and he lost his life while doing his duty,” Blackburn told the crowd. “But then there are many ordinary residents, including children, that saved the lives of countless others. There's 12-year-old Agnes Foran. She rescued her mom and baby brother from her damaged home although she herself was seriously injured.”
“Norman Roberts was all of 9 years old. He rescued his baby sister and his mother by dragging them several blocks to safety.”
Blackburn said it's a testament to the resiliency of Haligonians who persevered through an explosion, tsunami, fire, and a winter blizzard the following day.
She added, more than a century onward, this annual commemoration is also about more than remembering the event that changed this city forever.
“This is also a day of thanks and appreciation to the many that came to our rescue and provided the much needed medical aid, food, shelter, the cleanup efforts, transportation, the material and the labour to rebuild our city, and of course those who brought endless compassion and support.”
Financial support in the millions of dollars come in from all over the world, and closer to home from Boston and the Northeastern United States.
We honour that assistance each year by sending a Christmas tree to the capital of Massachusetts as a token of our ongoing gratitude.
