9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Just yesterday I received a bookring for which I had signed up ages ago, and it turned out to be the perfect timing for this book.
I guess, we all have our very personal memories of and feelings about September, 11th, 2001. For me, as for most other people, this day has been a dramatic and terrifying event that I will never be able to forget. I was not in any way personally affected by it, insofar as I knew nobody in New York at that time. But still, seeing the attacks on tv shocked and saddened me and to this day, when I hear stories about it or see yet another documentary I still have trouble to comprehend that it all actually happened.
What always deeply impressed me was the bravery of the firefighters, who went ino this burning inferno to save as many lives as they could, and ended up losing their own.
So when I received this book yesterday I expected even more stories full of sadness and heartbreak. But what I read instead was completely different. Yes, it brought tears to my eyes numerous times, but not because it was sad, but rather because these people were all just so unbelievably wonderful. This story restored my faith in humankind to a degree I never would have thought possible.
Jim DeFede “The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland”
When the american authorities closed the airspace over the USA on 9/11 hundreds of planes had to be re-routed and landed elsewhere. 38 of these planes landed in the little town of Gander. More than 6300 passengers had to be accomodated in this town of scarcely 10.000 inhabitants in the middle of nowhere.
This book tells the story of how the whole town rose to the occasion in a way that would have been plainly impossible anywhere else. Not only did they find a place to sleep for all these people, they donated needed items from their own homes, they cooked for them, they invited complete strangers into their homes and let them have a shower or to make long-distance calls to family members. Others gave them rides to shops, or just around town so they could get out of the shelters a bit. Shops donated not only food, but also toys for the kids, medicine, clothes. But most importantly, they made these people who were stranded there for days feel welcome and cared for. And the whole effort was mostly run by volunteers who kindly and without the thought of compensation gave of their time and their supplies, because it was just the right thing to do.
Just as the attacks themselves showed the worst human beings can do to each other, these fine people in Gander showed the best side of what it means to be human. And I can think of no better memorial to their kindness and spirit than this lovely book. And I am glad that I have read it today of all days.
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