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Blandford residents attend Swissair donation and appreciation ceremony

Theresa Hawkesworth
Lighthouse staff

 BLANDFORD - Blandford area residents gave and received thanks last week for their efforts following the crash of Swissair Flight 111.

 Swissair representative Jorg Sutter presented $10,000 donations to the Blandford Community Centre and volunteer fire department.

 "We want to thank you for opening up your doors and hearts to those involved with our accident. We have been deeply moved by your assistance, sympathy and support," he said. "The community of Blandford is indeed a special place with very special people who make no distinction when others are in need. You invited strangers to your homes, let recovery teams set up camp and turned your quiet community into a tireless emergency assistance centre. These are deeds which will never be forgotten."

 "Your countless acts of human kindness will always be remembered," added Mr. Sutter, of Swissair Montreal who also presented a plaque that will hang in the community centre. Colleagues from Geneva, Zurich and Paris joined him for the ceremony and received certificates of appreciation from Blandford students. They, in turn, received Swissair hats and Swiss army knives.

 In April, community members voted 38 to 22 to accept the $20,000 donation from Swissair.

 "From the first moment that this disaster touched our community, everyone, young and old, helped in whatever way they knew how in what became a helpless situation," said master of ceremonies Jane Moffat Schnare. "I recognize that this is not easy. Our community though has so much to be proud of; mostly our innate and natural desire to help without any wish to receive. To know that your efforts helped in some way is the reward we most appreciate."

 The community also recognized the support they received from the armed forces during recovery operations, including three officers they felt went above and beyond the call of duty.

 "So we are here tonight to receive thanks and to give thanks and from the bottom of my heart I thank you for having the strength to come and be part of this very special occasion in our community," said Mrs. Moffat Schnare.

 Former chief justice Lorne Clarke, chairman of the Flight 111 Memorial Advisory Committee, updated residents on plans for memorials to the 229 passengers and crew who died when the jet crashed into the ocean off Peggy's Cove and East Ironbound September 2, 1998.

 "(We've been) working with communities to develop a plan for a memorial which we all hope will be suitable and provide recognition that we as Nova Scotians, and in particular here in Blandford, can look upon as something that is respectful," he said. Last month, the committee chose the Bayswater memorial as the interment site.

 Mr. Clarke also spoke about tentative plans to mark the anniversary of the crash which include a memorial service, a dedication of the memorial at Whalesback and a gathering of family and friends in Blandford.

 Captain Dave Edmonds, on behalf of Admiral Dusty Miller, commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, outlined the armed forces efforts following the crash. He too thanked the community for its support during what became one of the largest domestic humanitarian operations in Canadian history.

 "I personally witnessed the superb efforts of the fishing community and other civilian boat owners at sea. That first night was one of many challenges, great emotions and a frantic search for survivors," he said. "There's no doubt that the impact on your community was immediate and very significant, but you, collectively with us, met the challenge head on."

 "I believe that we as Canadians should all be proud that we pulled together as a team when confronted with such terrible tragedy," he added.

 South Shore MP Gerald Keddy echoed those remarks.

 "Without your help, and without you people who are here in the middle of this terrible disaster, this couldn't have been done," he said. "You were needed."