These Canadians welcomed thousands into their homes during 9/11. Now they talk about 'betrayal'

[sheshe2]

4. "Lend a Hand, Do What You Can": Remembering the Generosity of Gander

“Lend a Hand, Do What You Can”: Remembering the Generosity of Gander

On September 11, 2001, airline passenger Jacqueline Pinto was flying home to New York from a vacation in Italy. During the flight, she heard the pilot announce a delay in landing, but did not realize how serious the situation was until her plane landed a thousand miles away at Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada. Hers was one of more than 250 flights forced to divert to Canada because of the closing of American airspace. Thirty-eight commercial flights touched down in Gander that day.

The mood on Pinto’s plane changed from confusion to shock as news of the terrorist attacks reached the cabin via phone calls and announcements from the cockpit. Pinto spent more than 24 hours confined to the plane with her fellow passengers and the crewmembers as security personnel examined each diverted aircraft.

Finally cleared to disembark and go through customs, Pinto, the passengers, and the crew left the airport by school bus. Neither Gander, with a population of nearly 10,000, nor towns in the surrounding area had enough hotel space for approximately 7,000 stranded passengers. Local residents responded.

Community television stations put out a call to “lend a hand, do what you can.” Schools and nonessential businesses were closed, allowing Newfoundlanders ranging from senior citizens to schoolchildren to volunteer.

www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/lend-hand-do-what-you-can-remembering-generosity-gander

Thank you for the OP, Swede.