Home > Work > The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
1 " They placed their lives on hold for a group of strangers and asked for nothing in return. They affirmed the basic goodness of man at a time when it was easy to doubt such humanity still existed. If the terrorists had hoped their attacks would reveal the weaknesses in western society, the events in Gander proved its strength. "
― , The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
2 " Neighbor to neighbor. It is a mentality that has been fostered over centuries, since the earliest settlers realized the only way to survive in this desolate but beautiful outpost was to work together. Much of their music captures this spirit. "
3 " Their willingness to help others is arguably the single most important trait that defines them as Newfoundlanders. Today, it is an identity they cling to, in part, because it is something that cannot be taken away from them. "
4 " twenty "
5 " There was no hatred. No anger. No fear in Gander. Only the spirit of community. Here, everyone was equal, everyone was treated the same. Here, the basic humanity of man wasn’t just surviving but thriving "
6 " The harder he ran, the more distance he temporarily placed between himself and his grief. "
7 " Roxanne and Clark Loper were homeward bound. "
8 " Newfoundland’s own brand of music from groups such as Great Big Sea, the Ennis Sisters, and Buddy Wassisname. "
9 " she was “giving him the devil. "
10 " There are a few things everyone should know about Newfoundland. First and foremost is how to pronounce it correctly. "
11 " Although it felt much longer, within a few seconds the pilot came over the loudspeaker. He spoke in German and Roxanne couldn’t discern much from the tone of his voice. Then she heard the passengers who could understand him audibly gasp. This made her even more frightened. Finally, in somewhat broken English, the pilot announced that airspace over the United States was closed and he had been ordered to land in Gander, Newfoundland. He offered no further explanation. "
12 " Clemens was a passenger, Clemens Briels, and when teachers at the school did a little further checking, they learned that he was a renowned Dutch artist. In fact, Briels was one of the official artists for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The drawing he crafted on the school blackboard was a version of his piece A Jump for Joy. one of the paintings he created especially for the Olympic Games and which was on display in Salt Lake City. The principal had the blackboard removed from the wall, framed, and covered with Plexiglas. It now hangs in the school’s library. "