Emergency! No planes can land in the United States. There’s been a terrible accident!! Or something?? All planes coming from Europe and the East diverted to a small island in the North Atlantic.
“Lend a hand. Do what you can!” Remembering how the citizens of the small town of Gander, Newfoundland responded to the arrival of 38 planes with nearly 7,000 passengers. The date is September 11, 2001.
The lesson learned that day was that we are all part of one human family. No matter where we come from, no matter what language we speak, no matter what religion or cultural practices we follow we are all in this together.
No one knew what was happening. The townspeople saw plane after plane land on their tiny airstrip. They were totally unprepared for the onslaught of so many varied needs including those families with babies, the elderly, those speaking no English and those with varied cultural or religious practices. The citizens of Gander gathered their resources, put aside their disputes and differences as they joined together. They closed down their town so that they could focus on meeting the need for shelter, food and essentials for a group of strangers. Their population suddenly exploded from a quiet 10,000 people to 17,000 with several dogs, a cat and even a pair of Bonobo monkeys who were on their way to a zoo. What the locals thought was a completely homogenous community turned out to have people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences that helped to create bridges to friendship.
The citizens of Gander and several surrounding towns collectively found ways to meet every need that arose. Time and again they came together to find a solution to yet another problem that needed fixing. In an amazing effort they turned their hearts and homes into a welcome oasis for the stranded arrivals.
At the same time the people on the planes were initially left sitting on the tarmac for hours without any hint of what was happening. Why had they landed so far from their destinations? Why were they being detained on their planes so long? Passengers stayed on the planes and were kept in the dark, but then their phones started pinging with news. Airports in New York, Washington D.C. and the rest of the U.S. were closed. Overnight the crew and security officials scrutinized each plane before letting the passengers disembark to make sure that the planes weren’t bearing terrorists who intended to do more harm.
The air space was shut down for a period of three days. Worry about friends and family was heightened as phone service was limited by an overstimulated network and a lack of personal access to phones. The citizens of Gander found phones and then more phones as the need became urgent.
When the passengers were eventually allowed off the planes they adapted to the situation. Some ended up sleeping on cots or floors with blankets and pillows they carried off the planes. The people of Gander opened their Salvation Army facility, then the school and other buildings to house the guests. Eventually they opened their family guest rooms. The local ice rink was transitioned from its usual hockey games and turned into a huge refrigerator to keep all of the incoming food safe. The town held a huge barbecue. There was worry and sadness, but there were also moments of joy and comfort. What started out as strangers meeting strangers became friends helping friends. Acts of kindness were met with acts of goodness. Residents and passengers alike were quoted,“We became this family looking out for each other.”
When the U.S. airspace finally opened up after three days, a hurricane threatened the island and a plane became immobile on the runway slowing departures. But soon the planes were ready to leave, some for their original destinations and others back to their places of departure.
After five days together the bonds between the people of Newfoundland and their overseas guests were so strong that parting was not easy for some. And, a connection has lasted. Although the people of Gander refused financial assistance, over the years appreciation by the passengers and others raised over $1 million. According to a blog by Alison Tretter, Exhibition Developer, 9/11 Memorial & Museum on the 10th anniversary, “the initial donation of $15,000 has, since 2001, grown to more than $1 million and provided scholarships to more than 200 local students.”
The story of Gander and the passengers has been made famous in a play called Come From Away that was produced by Michael Rubinoff. It transformed a narrative written by David Hein and Irene Sankoff, Canadian citizens who lived in New York City at the time of the attacks and decided to tell this story after interviewing people who were there. It is an extraordinary theatrical event which has been turned into a hit musical being performed at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine for a limited time. My husband and I were privileged to be able to attend one of the performances.
The opening and closing number, “Welcome to the Rock”, highlights the obscurity of the island and emphasizes how unlikely an event like this could take place. But it also sets the tone for a beautiful story of people coming together in the most unlikely situation and finding goodness in an unusual time and place.
The dialogue, songs and dance are so powerful that the show runs for a full hour and forty minutes without an intermission. Its fast pace keeps the audience sitting on the edge of their chairs, crying with the pain of remembering, laughing at the antics of people who came together and learning about the world family that was embraced during the aftermath of 9/11.
The playbook says. “Come From Away transcends the typical musical experience, offering a profound reminder of humanity’s potential for good even amidst immense tragedy…The brilliance of Come From Away lies in its ability to magnify individual experiences into a collective narrative…”
It is important for all of us to have reminders of the strength we have in ourselves when we are faced with tragedy. Coming together to face our challenges means we have more potential and hope than when we face them alone. We have so much more power when we come together and unite than we do when we see ourselves alone and lonely in our efforts. The Lion in the children’s musical The Lion King reminds his son and us that “We are more than we are…We are one.”
