The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/26/2015
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 9/26/2015 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
I found this fair-condition softcover at a local Savers thrift shop. It's about the many planes that were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 when US airspace was shut down, and about the effect this had on the local people who had to deal with the near-doubling of their town's population.
I remember that day, of course; at my workplace, everything stopped while we gathered around a TV in increasing horror. (This wasn't far from Boston, and since two of the planes had taken off from there it added an unnerving connection.) But I hadn't given much thought to the fates of the people in the air when the entire US airspace was closed, and this book showed that aspect of the tragedy. Some 38 jets were diverted to the small town of Gander, with some 6,500 passengers and crew - most of whom had to spend additional hours (some as long as *24 hours*) in the planes on the ground while waiting for security checks on everyone and everything.
The book focuses on a number of passengers from different flights and different countries, some with much more pressing needs than others, and on many of the locals who immediately leaped in to help: people offered rides, opened their homes to give rest (or even just access to a hot shower) to increasingly-stressed and exhausted passengers, and in some cases formed their own little communities of refugees.
There are lots of heart-warming anecdotes here - and some funny ones: one man, returning home late, crawled into bed in the dark only to find an elderly woman there, one of the many "guests" who'd been given shelter in private homes. Oh, and there's a very touching account of the people who were concerned for the animals on the planes - a number of pets, some in need of regular medication, and an exotic or two; I was happy to see how well they were all cared for.
Not everything went smoothly, of course - there were communications glitches regarding the departing flights, especially some of the international ones, where pilots had clearance to fly back to their own countries well before the US airspace was open and had to decide whether to take everyone back or wait longer and hope to continue to their original destination. In some cases flights took the first available US airport even if it was hundreds of miles from their original destination, and there's at least one report of a pilot deliberately misleading the passengers into thinking they were proceeding to the US destination when they were actually returning to Germany.
Overall, though, the impression is of people pulling together to get through a difficult time - and it makes me want to visit Newfoundland even more than I already did (though not, I hope, under such extreme circumstances!).
I remember that day, of course; at my workplace, everything stopped while we gathered around a TV in increasing horror. (This wasn't far from Boston, and since two of the planes had taken off from there it added an unnerving connection.) But I hadn't given much thought to the fates of the people in the air when the entire US airspace was closed, and this book showed that aspect of the tragedy. Some 38 jets were diverted to the small town of Gander, with some 6,500 passengers and crew - most of whom had to spend additional hours (some as long as *24 hours*) in the planes on the ground while waiting for security checks on everyone and everything.
The book focuses on a number of passengers from different flights and different countries, some with much more pressing needs than others, and on many of the locals who immediately leaped in to help: people offered rides, opened their homes to give rest (or even just access to a hot shower) to increasingly-stressed and exhausted passengers, and in some cases formed their own little communities of refugees.
There are lots of heart-warming anecdotes here - and some funny ones: one man, returning home late, crawled into bed in the dark only to find an elderly woman there, one of the many "guests" who'd been given shelter in private homes. Oh, and there's a very touching account of the people who were concerned for the animals on the planes - a number of pets, some in need of regular medication, and an exotic or two; I was happy to see how well they were all cared for.
Not everything went smoothly, of course - there were communications glitches regarding the departing flights, especially some of the international ones, where pilots had clearance to fly back to their own countries well before the US airspace was open and had to decide whether to take everyone back or wait longer and hope to continue to their original destination. In some cases flights took the first available US airport even if it was hundreds of miles from their original destination, and there's at least one report of a pilot deliberately misleading the passengers into thinking they were proceeding to the US destination when they were actually returning to Germany.
Overall, though, the impression is of people pulling together to get through a difficult time - and it makes me want to visit Newfoundland even more than I already did (though not, I hope, under such extreme circumstances!).
I'm sending this book to BCer FancyHorse in Alabama to fill a wish. Enjoy!
*** Released as part of the 2015 TICK TOCK release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 TICK TOCK release challenge. ***
Thank you so much, GoryDetails! The book was in my mailbox on Tuesday, Oct. 13, but we had been out of town a few days last week and had the mail held for us at the P.O. and of course, Monday was a U. S. holiday.
I am looking forward to reading it as soon as I finish 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. A friend loaned me that book, and I feel I should read it quickly and get it back to her asap. (She is not a bookcrosser.)
I am looking forward to reading it as soon as I finish 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. A friend loaned me that book, and I feel I should read it quickly and get it back to her asap. (She is not a bookcrosser.)
I had seen an article on Facebook about the events in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11/2001, and this book was mentioned in the article. I posted about it on a Bookcrossing forum, and said that I would like to read the book. GoryDetails generously offered to send me her copy!
A wonderful book, a true account of the events in Gander, Newfoundland and surrounding areas following the attacks of September 11, 2001. All airspace in the USA and even North America was closed, and all flights in progress had to land ASAP at the nearest airport that could accommodate them. Gander had been the site of a huge military airbase during World War II, as a fueling station en route to Europe, so it was easily able to accommodate many airplanes. There were passengers from all over the world, with many cultural differences. The good citizens of Gander (and surrounding areas) very graciously provided food, medicine, shelter, bedding, even clothing, transportation to stores, etc, and did not forget the pets still on board the planes. The dietary needs of three Orthodox Jewish passengers were provided. Friendships were formed. It is a very heart-warming and inspirational book. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would highly recommend it!
A wonderful book, a true account of the events in Gander, Newfoundland and surrounding areas following the attacks of September 11, 2001. All airspace in the USA and even North America was closed, and all flights in progress had to land ASAP at the nearest airport that could accommodate them. Gander had been the site of a huge military airbase during World War II, as a fueling station en route to Europe, so it was easily able to accommodate many airplanes. There were passengers from all over the world, with many cultural differences. The good citizens of Gander (and surrounding areas) very graciously provided food, medicine, shelter, bedding, even clothing, transportation to stores, etc, and did not forget the pets still on board the planes. The dietary needs of three Orthodox Jewish passengers were provided. Friendships were formed. It is a very heart-warming and inspirational book. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would highly recommend it!
Journal Entry 5 by FancyHorse at Eastmont Baptist Church, Atlanta Hwy in Montgomery, Alabama USA on Thursday, April 7, 2016
Released 8 yrs ago (4/6/2016 UTC) at Eastmont Baptist Church, Atlanta Hwy in Montgomery, Alabama USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Released at 2016 Spring Yard Sale at Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL 36109. This is a semi-annual church project to fund missions.
Hello Friend,
I hope you will enjoy this book. Please make a journal entry here at Bookcrossing, and then send it on!
You can be an Anonymous Finder without joining the site, but If you do decide to join, please consider using me, FancyHorse, as the member who referred you. Thank you!
Hello Friend,
I hope you will enjoy this book. Please make a journal entry here at Bookcrossing, and then send it on!
You can be an Anonymous Finder without joining the site, but If you do decide to join, please consider using me, FancyHorse, as the member who referred you. Thank you!
