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 … 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.
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Au Canada ! Excellent account of Gander NewFoundLand rising to make a
Tough time reasonable.
Saw “Come from Away” on Broadway, and this told more in-depth story. I lived in the DC area on 9/11, and, rather than making me sad, this book showed the true humanity of people. The residents of Gander and environs should always be remembered for their kindnesses during an otherwise horrible time in our history.
Very interesting about the town that came together for those who were stranded in Gander, Newfoundland in the aftermath of 9/11.
A good time to be reading about people doing good things.
Do you know what happened to planes from Europe on 9/11? I really hadn’t thought about the closing of the airspace over USA, where did all those planes go? Quite a few landed in Gander, Newfoundland. This story is important, unfortunately not well written, but informative.
It’s a quick read.
Many of us did not think of all those people on planes that had to land immediately if they were in US airspace or those on the way to the US. This is a wonderful real story of the people of Newfoundland and how they changed the lives of so many people by their love and unselfishness. Wonderfully inspirational.
Showed the best that humans can be.
A book that everyone should read that showed the humanity of the people of Gander Newfoundland.so much was done for so so many by so few.
This book restores your faith in humanity.
During 911, the United States shut down its air space. There were over 300 planes en route to the United States. Only Canada would give them a haven to land. 70 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. There are 10,000 people in Gander and they welcomed to their community over 7,000 people from …
While we all worried about the Twin Towers and what was happening in our country on 9/11, there were airplanes flying to the United States that had to be diverted, because all our air space was closed to flights, not knowing if there were more terrorists flying in. Many, many airplanes filled with hundreds of frightened passengers were diverted …