We have an obligation to remember 9-11

There are some things people never forget, and some things they should never forget.

The horror and tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 should never be forgotten.

It's fitting there were various memorials conducted Monday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of that terrible day.

It was fitting that Mayor Margaret Black opened Monday's council meeting by requesting a minute of silence in memory of the people who died that day.

It was fitting that both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and American President George W. Bush addressed their respective nations Monday in commemoration of the anniversary.

More important, it is fitting that Canada is making its contribution on the war on terror. There are some who would rather not see Canadians in harm's way in

Afghanistan. Actually, the truth is none of us want to see that. But how many of us would like to see the alternatives?

As Harper accurately observed Monday, "The horrors of the world will not go away if we turn a blind eye to them."

"And these horrors cannot be stopped unless some among us are willing to accept enormous sacrifice and risk to themselves," he added.

We as Canadians must never forget that fellow citizens were among the victims of 9-11. We must also bear in mind that attacks could still be launched against us. It wasn't that long ago that police in England arrested a host of people suspected of plotting to blow up trans-Atlantic aircraft in mid-flight. Canadians could just as easily been on one of those flights.

In the words of the old saying, "There but for the grace of God go I."

Our country has an obligation to never forget, and

to do our bit to try to make sure it never happens again.