Author: Jim DeFede
Year published: 2021
Category: Adult nonfiction
Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5
Location: (my 2025 Google Reading map): Ukraine
Summary: 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.
Review: I really enjoyed the musical about this event (Come Fly Away) so I thought this would be an uplifting nonfiction to read during Nonfiction November. And I was right. I was teary many times while reading this book as I heard the details of the lengths that the Newfies went to as they helped the stranded passengers and crew.
From the movie/musical on the topic, I vaguely knew the story of the planes landing in Gander, that the people were SUPER helpful, and a couple of individual people's stories (those eye-catching ones that were included in the show). But, I had no idea of so many wonderful stories. The locals in Gander and the surrounding towns stopped their regular lives to welcome over 6,000 passengers and crew. They fed, clothed, entertained, consoled, supported, cooked, cleaned, and more. They became friends, and many said they felt they had made family.
How would we respond if put in that situation? When there is a disaster, I am not the first to drop everything and give my all. I wish I were. Maybe it's because it's a small town. Maybe it's because they are Canadian (well, Newfoundlanders). Maybe it was the sheer volume and the tragedy. Whatever it was, it's such an uplifting story and a story very well told.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Nonfiction
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