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The Day the World Came to Town Updated Edition: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

The Day the World Came to Town Updated Edition: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

by Jim DeFede

4.5 (13528 ratings)
Travel

Published

August 24, 2021

Pages

272 pages

Language

English

Publisher

William Morrow Paperbacks

Available Formats & Prices

View on Amazon

Kindle

$9.99

Hardcover

$20.98

Paperback

$12.99

Audiobook

$0.00

Audio CD

Not found

About This Book

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.

Introduction

When unimaginable events unfolded on September 11, 2001, causing airspace to shut down, the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, became an unlikely beacon of hope and humanity. This updated edition of "The Day the World Came to Town" offers a poignant exploration of the profound acts of kindness and camaraderie that emerged from chaos. As stranded passengers, with diverse backgrounds and stories, joined the small community of Gander residents, together they embodied the true essence of empathy and resilience in the face of daunting circumstances.

Key Takeaways

The inhabitants' selflessness transformed a challenging situation into a testament of humanity’s enduring compassion. A shared experience with strangers turned into lasting friendships that transcended cultural barriers. Community spirit was reignited illustrating the extraordinary power of goodwill and unity during crisis.

Detailed Description

On September 11 2001 Gander Newfoundland was thrust into the international spotlight as 38 planes were forced to land unexpectedly. \\ It was an event that transformed the ordinary lives of Gander’s residents into an extraordinary narrative of compassion \\ unveiling the best of humanity amid chaos. The small town welcomed nearly 7 000 bewildered and anxious passengers \\ offering them shelter food and comfort in a time of uncertainty.\\ \n\\ \nAs the days unfolded strangers from around the world became entwined with the close-knit community.

\\ The poignant stories of generosity and camaraderie reveal how the town’s residents opened their hearts and homes \\ leaving an indelible impact on everyone involved. The warmth and resilience displayed amidst tragedy \\ serves as a lasting reminder of the human capacity for kindness.\\ \n\\ \nThis updated edition revisits some of the passengers and residents years later exploring how their connections thrived long after 9/11. \\ It delves deeper into the psychological and emotional journey of those affected shedding light on the enduring legacy of this remarkable moment in history.

\\ By capturing these narratives the book highlights an unparalleled example of goodwill that continues to inspire \\ readers to embrace empathy in our own communities.\\ \n\\ \nThe story of Gander becomes a profound exploration into how ordinary people \\ when thrust into extraordinary circumstances find it within themselves to create unity and hope. This updated edition \\ enriches the original tale with fresh insights and follow-ups offering a heartwarming testament to the bonds that define our shared humanity.

Standout Features

The updated edition offers new insights and follow-ups on past stories enhancing the original enchanting narrative It deepens the readers’ understanding of \\ the participants' personal growth and continued connections fostering a more profound appreciation for their stories.\\ \n\\ \nThe narrative intertwines a diverse array of personal experiences illustrating the universal qualities of \\ compassion and kindness It transcends cultural and national boundaries making it resonant and relatable to a global audience.\\ \n\\ \nThe book underscores how crisis can stimulate an unparalleled sense of community and solidarity \\ This exceptional depiction of spontaneous human kindness stands out as a beacon of inspiration prompting readers to \\ reflect on their own capacity for compassion.

Book Details

ISBN-10:

0063005980

ISBN-13:

978-0063005983

Dimensions:

5.31 x 0.61 x 8 inches

Weight:

2.31 pounds

Specifications

Pages:272 pages
Language:English
Published:August 24, 2021
Publisher:William Morrow Paperbacks
Authors:Jim DeFede

Rating

4.5

Based on 13528 ratings

Customer Reviews

Interesting real-life story of plane passengers and the goodness of humans.

Verified Purchase
N. Moore
June 29, 2024

Read this for book club. I had never considered what happened to the other flights that day and this account was very uplifting. The town supported and did what they could to assist in an awkward situation.

Humanity's finest hour ---- kosher kitchen included!

Verified Purchase
Rabbi Yonassan Gershom
December 7, 2003

It took me a while to get around to reading this book, because, by the time it came out, I was over-saturated with 9/11 materials. But this is a very different type of story from those about Ground Zero. When the United States shut down its airspace and diverted all those planes elsewhere, 38 of them ended up in Gander, Newfoundland, a fishing town of about 10,000. The reason was simple: Gander, in spite of its small population today, has an enormous airport. During World War II, American military planes refueled at Gander before heading across the ocean to Europe. Until the invention of the jet engine, Gander was the "biggest gas station in the world," and many planes still stop there to refuel. Physically, Gander Airport could accommodate all those big planes landing, but what about the passengers? That's the real story of Gander -- how the people opened their hearts and homes to total strangers and mobilized every resource they had to comfort and care for the thousands of travelers who suddenly found themselves stranded. It was humanity's finest hour. This book abounds with human interest stories, such as: the fire engine racing to the next town with sirens blaring, to bring back toys for the "plane children"; the animal protection volunteers who crawled into the bellies of the grounded planes to rescue and care for the passengers' pets; the American family returning from Kazakhstan with a newly-adopted daughter; the big party for the four kids with birthdays that week... and many, many more. I was especially pleased to read about Rabbi Sudak, the Orthodox Jew (Lubovitcher Hasid, actually) stranded in Gander, who set up a small kosher kitchen and ministered to other stranded Jews, as well as curious locals and a "secret Jew" who lived in the area and "came out" to the rabbi. I was aware of this story because I had read about it in a Jewish newspaper but, in all the TV coverage of Gander, I never heard the rabbi mentioned once. In fact, there was a total lack of coverage of Jewish chaplains anywhere during the mainstream 9/11 coverage. This annoyed me to no end, because I KNEW that rabbis and lay Jewish workers were ministering during the 9/11 efforts, the same as their Christian counterparts. So it was very heartening to see this story included among the many tales of courage and caring. On the technical end, the book is well-written. The author, Jim Defede, is an excellent storyteller. In the course of writing the book, he interviewed over 180 people. From these, he chose a few representative stories to follow through the entire six days of the crisis. At the same time, he paints the bigger picture very well, so that we can see how the whole town of Gander -- as well as several other towns in the area -- were part of it. He also weaves in cultural and historical background about the area, such as the history of the airport mentioned above. (Which, by the way, answered my own questions about why all those planes were sent to a tiny town. I remember wondering about that at the time.) All in all, this is an excellent book -- one that I could not put down once I started reading.

A Bright Light in a Bitter Time

Verified Purchase
booknblueslady
November 30, 2013

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede 4 stars pp. 260 Sometimes it seems important to read something that reminds us that there are good people in the world and much still to be thankful for. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede is one such book. DeFede offers the reader a chance to immerse herself in the town of Gander, Newfoundland during that horrible week of September 11, 2001. We follow a number of passengers on different planes which would eventually land at Gander until they return to there homes a week or more later. One can appreciate DeFede retelling in a matter of fact blow by blow reporting. There is of course sadness and grief involved along with those other emotions which we all felt during that time, but the reader learns of how extraordinary the town and its citizens are. How they came together and care for the thousands of extra people and some few animals which unexpectedly arrived in their town. The town of Gander showed unstinting generosity and thoughtfulness to its new residence during a very difficult time. Here DeFede tells about if from the perspective of Werner Baldessarini, then chairman of Hugo Boss who had been traveling to NYC for Fashion Week: The bond with the passengers was rivaled only by his attachment to the townspeople, whose compassion was so overwhelming. They took their visitors on driving tours of the countryside. They took them to their homes. The passengers weren’t treated like refugees, but like long-lost relatives, and the more he thought about it, the more it moved Baldessarini. Coming from an environment as cutthroat as the fashion industry, Baldessarini realized this was not a feeling to ignore or casually dismiss. This was something to be relished. And given everything that was going wrong in the world, it was reassuring to see that right now, right here, in one small corner of the planet, something was going right. There was no hatred. No anger. No fear in Gander. I found this to be a really enjoyable read and encourage all interested to read it as well.

Remember 9/11

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Marcia B. Schwefler
August 12, 2024

Thought this book very good. A lot of research and info on Newfoundland. Great read.