Setting on a granite rock at the edge of a lake in the North West Territories waiting for a float plane to fly us out of a caribou hunting camp, cussing the outfitter for trying to save a few dollars by making us waiting for a flight back haul from the diamond mines to come and pick us up. After three hours the outfitter called the Yellowknife Airport to see where our plane was..... we wouldn't believe it when he told us that all the air space over North America was closed and ALL planes were grounded until further notice.
We were in shock, no radio, no tv, no communication and no plane. We had no idea if we were being bombed country wide or what was going on. We sat on the tundra for three days wondering how in the world we were going to get home, or even if we would ever get home. Setting on the open tundra, 70 miles from the Arctic Circle, down to caribou meat for food and winter only days away caused all kinds of unpleasant mental images. (As far as I know, no one walks out of that country, summer or winter.)
After three day of interesting conversation among 5 Americans, 1 Eskimo, 5 Canadians, and an Australian, discussing what must be going on in world, a float plane was allowed to make an emergency flight out to pick us up. (The float plane flight back was another wild story, in and of itself!) We eventually got back to Yellowknife and were still 1500 miles from the US Border. American air space was still closed, by then all the car rental companies were out of cars so getting home was still a challenge. A week later we arrived home, (by subcompact car full of gear and spoiling meat.) exhausted and grateful at the same time.
After we learned what had happen to our fellow Americans in New York, Washington and on forth airliner that was taken down by American heros, we came to believe our experience was a minor inconvenience compared to thousands of other Americans.
Little did I know, as I sat wondered where in the heck my float plane was, that my son would soon enough spend a year in Ramadi, hunting from the fresh air chair of a Humvee.
There is no way we can adequately express our appreciation to the men and women from our cities, towns and country roads, that have given their lives to protect us and to preserve our freedom. All we have or will ever have we owe to those patriots that have given their lives throughout the centuries to guard this wonderful land in which we live.
May the families of these innocent men and women whose lives have been taken know that we shall never forget their very personal loss.
May we always resist, to the last man, woman, and child..... any individual, nation, or creed that would take freedom from another human being.
DC
