Internet Resources
- 20 Years Later: The Little Town in Newfoundland That Welcomed Nearly 7,000 Strangers on 9/11As captured in the Broadway musical "Come From Away," the Canadian community of Gander welcomed in nearly 7,000 strangers in the midst of America's darkest days.
- N.L. famously embraced the world on 9/11. There's an untold story about what happened beforeAn influx of refugees, a history of airline tragedies and even Y2K prepared Gander for 9/11.
- An oasis of kindness on 9/11: This town welcomed 6,700 strangers amid terror attacksHow a small town became an unlikely hero of 9/11.
- ‘Plane People’ From 9/11 Return to Newfoundland to Give ThanksPeople who were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland share their stories.
The lives changed in Gander, N.L., by 9/11
When planes were diverted on 9/11 to Gander, N.L., it changed the lives of so many young people who carry the spirit of kindness and community with them, decades later.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTbnjihUTrA
9/11 Refuge Revisited: Gander Airport
As terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 closed American air space, 38 passenger planes heading west over the Atlantic with more than 6,500 passengers and crew were diverted to Gander Airport in Newfoundland. Those passengers soon found out that instead of being trapped, they were embraced. CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg revisits the airport ten years later.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmuhQcqRztE
Perspectives
The Day the World Came to Town
The True Story Behind the Events on 9/11 that Inspired Broadway's Smash Hit Musical Come from Away, Featuring All New Material from the Author When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. The citizens of Gander met the stranded passengers with an overwhelming display of friendship and goodwill. As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Local bus drivers who had been on strike came off the picket lines to transport the passengers to the various shelters set up in local schools and churches. Linens and toiletries were bought and donated. A middle school provided showers, as well as access to computers, email, and televisions, allowing the passengers to stay in touch with family and follow the news. Over the course of those four days, many of the passengers developed friendships with Gander residents that they expect to last a lifetime. As a show of thanks, scholarship funds for the children of Gander have been formed and donations have been made to provide new computers for the schools. This book recounts the inspiring story of the residents of Gander, Canada, whose acts of kindness have touched the lives of thousands of people and been an example of humanity and goodwill.