At peace

There aren’t many trees here, just a few conifers, rocks and shrubs.

The earth is red with autumn colour.

The shoreline presents granite to the ocean which embraces and cheers the meeting. It is part of the rhythm of this place. 

A short distance away lies Peggy's Cove. 

My husband and I are at a memorial to Swissair Flight 111. 

On September 2, 1998, all 229 passengers and crew died when flammable material caught fire near the ceiling at the rear of the cockpit. Fire spread and affected the aircraft systems and the cockpit environment. The aircraft was doomed.

Eight kilometers from this spot, the plane hit the water with a force 35 times that of gravity. One can imagine what such force did to the plane and the people. A rescue mission soon became a recovery effort as the depth of the tragedy became obvious. It took five years for the report on the accident to be finalized. 

The monument looks out over St. Margaret’s Bay. It has two large granite stones with inscriptions and granite benches out front. The location looks out to the crash site off shore. One stone has cuts to signify the flight number 111. 

This is a solemn place where natural elements inspire peace of mind and heart.