Canadian veterans and military families have expressed anger over recent remarks by US officials that they say insult the sacrifices made by Canadian service members.
Former Canadian soldier Perry Chalmers recalled his experience on September 11, 2001, when he was conducting training exercises with a specialized mortar unit of the Royal Canadian Regiment in New Brunswick.
After news broke that the United States had come under attack, Chalmers and other troops quickly learned that their military duties could change. He contacted his wife, who told him that the second World Trade Center tower had collapsed shortly before 10:30am.
Canadian forces were subsequently placed on alert and sent to nearby airports to help manage the emergency caused by the closure of North American airspace.
The troops prepared their equipment and gathered essential supplies in case they were required to deploy immediately. Chalmers recalled that events unfolded rapidly as Canadian forces responded to the crisis.
The comments from US officials, including JD Vance and Pete Hegseth, have since triggered criticism from Canadian veterans and military families, with some calling for an apology over what they view as disrespectful remarks about Canada’s military service and sacrifices.
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