Gander, Newfoundland is a town that has a familiar ring to it.  Many people will pause for a moment and say things like “I know I’ve heard of that place but just can’t seem to remember what for”. Then when you mention 9/11, the gears start churning and suddenly they have a vague recollection.  Some will say “Wasn’t that what they did that play about?” – speaking of course about Come from Away.  So, what is Gander?  Why does it have such prominence to 9/11? 

The dogs and I stopped in Gander at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum. The dogs were not allowed inside the museum, so they waited patiently for me in the car while I explored the exhibits.  Throughout the museum there are various exhibits showcasing aviation history.  The museum has everything from military artefacts to ashtrays from a bygone era of air travel where you used to be able to smoke on a plane.  Then there is the exhibit that put Gander, Newfoundland on the world map – the 9/11 exhibit. 

After the terror attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the skies shut down.  No flights were allowed to enter Canada or The United States.  With literally thousands of flights destined for the United States, there was only one place for them to land – Gander, Newfoundland.  So, flights began landing in Gander, Newfoundland with some very confused passengers.  No one knew what was going on, other than they were restricted from entering Canadian and United States airspace.  How long would they be in Gander?  No one knew. Plane after plane landed in Gander with weary, tired, and confused passengers.  When it was realized that American Airspace was not going to open anytime soon, the people of Gander all came together to support those who Come from Away. Churches and firehalls became temporary shelters.  The townspeople came together to prepare meals and donate clothing to those in need. Keep in mind, some of these folks were traveling to warmer climates in the United States and got stuck in freezing temperatures with nothing but shorts and tees and no coats.  It’s been said that some townspeople even opened their homes to host some of the weary travelers.  The kindness and generosity of the community of Gander was the light that flickered in a time of such darkness and tragedy.  This is why people remember the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland. They may not remember the details, but they remember that flicker of hope in a time of such despair. 

I retrieved the dogs from the car to explore the outdoors exhibits of the museum. We walked through the grass admiring the aircraft – many of which were military aircraft.  I read the plaques describing the various aircraft while the dogs rolled and played in the grass.  We left with grass-stained fur and a quiet appreciation for what a tiny community like Gander can become when faced with a global tragedy – a lesson in treating those who come from away as friends, finding the similarities in those who are different from us, and being the beacon of light in a world filled with darkness.