Have you ever wondered how you would have handled a major historical event if you had been alive to experience it? As a Jew, I often wonder if I would have been smart enough and brave enough to leave Europe before Hitler deemed it too late. I also wonder if I were not a Jew in Europe at that time, if I would have been courageous enough to help the Jews. A righteous gentile. Would I have earned that exalted title? And so, as I learn an interesting bit of 9/11 history, I wonder how I would have responded in that situation, too. Specifically, when American airspace was closed after the terrorist attacks, all planes headed for the United States had to go elsewhere. Thirty-eight of them landed in Gander, Newfoundland, where they remained for almost a week. The warm welcome these 7000 “Plane People” received from the 9000 residents of Gander is an amazing tale that I will talk about next. But my question is this, would I have been a gracious receiver of the kindness of strangers or would I have been the “B-word” instead, just needing to get home, now!
I first became aware of this story when the musical, Come From Away, arrived in Cincinnati as a part of my theater subscription. It had been nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2017 – including Best Musical – so I was eager to see it. The book, music, and lyrics were created by husband and wife team, Irene Sankoff and David Hein. In an interview, they say they took 16,000 stories (7000 Plane People plus 9000 “Newfies”) and combined them into a 100-minute musical featuring 12 actors (who play multiple roles). In creating such a compact tale, a lot of detail was necessarily left out, but theater goers are still awed by the generosity of the town people and impressed by the adaptability of the passengers.
Viewers also had an inkling of the myriad problems that presented themselves before, during, and after the passengers could deplane. Among them was the fact that checked luggage remained with the plane throughout the almost-week-long adventure. If you have ever made it to your travel destination while your luggage took a detour, you can imagine what this was like for the passengers. For the Newfies, it was problematic, too. Yes, they had to provide beds and blankets and toilet paper and food for their “guests,” but then there was the need for tooth brushes, floss, mouthwash, deodorant, diapers, formula, baby food, tampons, aspirins, etc. And oh my, what were they going to do about people who wanted to take a shower? Would you believe they opened their arms – and shower doors – to these strangers?
Wanting to know more about this story, I looked to the book, The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, by Jim Defede, an American journalist. He added many fascinating details to the crazy logistics of this tale.
- Before deplaning: Some smokers onboard the planes needed a nicotine fix despite the planes’ no-smoking mandates. On one plane, two people needed to be sedated due to bad cases of the shakes. The Red Cross contacted local pharmacists for help. They were able to provide nicotine gum and nicotine patches – available over the counter in Gander – for the passengers, turning to the Canadian Mounties to deliver these items to the airport/planes.
- During deplaning: The 38 planes were processed in the order of their landing. The first plane had 337 passengers, and it took three hours for them to go through customs. Of course, the process moved more smoothly with each passing group, but just imagine being a passenger on the 36th, 37th or 38th plane to have landed. That’s a lot of sitting on the plane. That’s a lot of being patient. That’s a lot of being a good sport.
- During deplaning: A problem for the folks of Gander was how to transport the Plane People to the various shelters they set up, some as far as 50 miles away. School buses came to mind, but the bus drivers were on strike. Like in a fairy tale, the drivers quickly put down their picket signs and volunteered to help. As for supplying those makeshift shelters? The Salvation Army was in charge. In a radio announcement, they let the citizens of Gander know what was needed. At one shelter, cars stretched for two miles as people waited to drop off their donations.
- After deplaning: Remember those checked bags that never got off the plane? Well, what about the prescription medicines packed away within them? Newfie pharmacists came to the rescue. One of them worked 42 hours making calls to 12 different countries to fill prescriptions for passengers. In 24 hours, they filled more than 1000 prescriptions, and they did it free of charge. Beyond taking care of all these human needs, the Newfies were also tasked with the care of 19 animals – including two bonobo monkeys – that had traveled in cargo.
As I read the many details covered in this book, I wondered time and again how I would have handled the experience. I hope I find my answer in the example of Werner Baldessarini who was an executive for Hugo Boss and thus a “celebrity” among the passengers. A wealthy Saudi businessman offered to send a private jet to carry him away from Gander, but he refused the offer. As Defede explains, Baldessarini felt an incredible connection with his fellow passengers rivaled only by his attachment to the townspeople whose compassion was so overwhelming. He felt no need to prematurely break those bonds of fellowship, especially not at a time when hatred seemed to rule the world.
September 11, 2001 is in the past, but hatred has not followed. That’s why I am so taken with this play and with this book. I need to be reminded that good people still exist in this world. And they do. There are over 9000 of them in Gander, Newfoundland.
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Want to know a bit more? Try these links!
The interview with Irene Sankoff and David Hein: https://www.broadwayinbound.com/news/video-the-story-of-come-from-away/
Listen to one of the songs, “Blankets and Bedding”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChH1xH5OJ9I&list=PLhyGNAmDNkQFa83vonw49VagpxMHBz0ps&index=4&t=0s
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If you loved this story, please tell a friend about my work. I would like to grow the number of subscribers to my blog/newsletter: LorieKleinerEckert.com
Fascinating, Lorie! I’d like to think that I would have been a gracious guest OR a generous Ganderian (?), but I’m not 100% sure about either! Your posts are always so thought-provoking. Thanks!
Thanks, Rose. I recommend the book and the play to you!!
Love the message behind this play, thanks for the reminder!
Thanks, Lisa. Practicing kindness…what a great thing to do!
I would love to see the play. KAY loved it and it must be very moving.
It’s a terrific play, Vera. The book is terrific too. Thanks for reading the blog and for commenting!
Hi Lorie,
I am catching up on my email. Christmas was busy. This was really a good blog and I often think the same thing myself. I guess I will never know for sure until a time like that would occur in my place.
Cindy
Hi Cindy. Thanks for reading and for commenting. I am never sure if things that affect me will also be meaningful to others. Glad this blog spoke to you. Whew! It’s great to get positive feedback.
Definitely food for thought and inspirational. Planting the seed for all sorts of “what iffs” that may come our way, both large and small. As always, you give us much to ponder! Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one! I am happy to report that it has inspired one friend to go see the musical on Broadway!!
There was a wonderful book written about this called “The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland.” I didn’t know this story was made into a play as well. That’s awesome.
Hi Lydia. Thank you for your comment. I have read the book you mention and wrote a review of it for Medium.com. I have started posting book reviews on my website too, but have not gotten this one up on the website yet. Here is the link to Medium: https://medium.com/books-galore/a-heartwarming-story-about-9-11-b9299793ad1d The book and the play were both wonderful!!!
I just found you from the link in the article about Werner Baldessarini . I just finished the book and enjoyed his part in it. I was googling him to find out more about him. I had just returned from Italy on Sept 10 and never realized how close I came to being involved in events on Sept 11 had I stayed in Italy just one more day! What a great book. I, too, saw the musical and loved it but it was so gratifying to read all the different stories in the books. I’ve bought it for two friends who love it and will pass it on to their friends. I’ll also forward your blog to them as well.
Thank you.
Hello Gloria, I’m thrilled that you found my blog, enjoyed it, shared it with others, and took the time to write me! That’s all very kind of you. Please consider subscribing to my blog/website. Besides writing slice-of-life blogs twice a month, I also add book reviews almost weekly to the book blog portion of my website. There are a lot of great books out there!! Thanks again, Lorie