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I recently could not get back in my home temporarily due to a faulty exit/entry doorknob lock. It was totally to blame because I was well aware of the lock problems even though I had opened and shut the door many times without being locked out as well as my wife and others. Fortunately, my wife was home, and I called her attention to my dilemma by knocking on a window. For a few moments, I was homeless sort of speaking, and the situation made me think of all the homeless people due to poverty, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and war.

I gave even more thought to it when traveling to the Indiana University Auditorium to watch the musical “Come From Away” with some good friends, and many others, some who were watching it for a second time by a show of hands when asked, understandably after viewing it for our first time. Honestly, I was not aware of what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, a town of 9,651 residents and about a thousand miles away from the United States, on September 11, 2001 until watching this wonderful production.

Due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, no planes could enter the United States air space until being thoroughly checked. Consequently, 38 planes landed in Gander with 6,579 passengers and crew members, including several children. There were also 19 animals. They had to stay on their planes, some for as long as 24 hours, while there was much decision making. News of why was slowly released while pilots were initially told by tower controllers to land due to a crisis. Of course, there was an array of emotions by passengers and crew members when landing unexpectedly and afterward. Once finally going through customs at the airport, school buses took them to numerous places in Gander and other local towns where they remained for several days. Televisions were placed in areas for them to watch what had happened, and there were many emotions once again. Phones quickly became available for them to call, some very concerned about family and friends possibly being harmed during the terrorists attacks. The residents openly and freely provided empathy, shelter, food, beverages, clothing, recreation, entertainment, and even toys for the children. The Canadian Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and other organizations helped in many ways. Planes started departing, after more security checks, when United States air space opened up again on September 13, but some did not leave until September 15.

Following, there is a song that Newfoundlanders really like by Roy Payne and certainly captures what happened during that period in history:

“There Are No Price Tags on the Doors of Newfoundlanders”

“Raise your glass and drink with me to that island in the sea
Where friendship is a word they understand
You will never be alone when you're in a Newfie's home
There's no price tag on the doors in Newfoundland
There will always be a chair at the table for you there
They'll share what they have with any man
And you don't have to worry friend if your pocketbook is thin
There's no price tag on the doors in Newfoundland”

The passengers and crew of one flight initiated a $15,000 scholarship fund for students in Gander. More donations were given in response to the generosity, and the fund has grown to over $1 million which has provided scholarships for many local students. In Gander, there is the Compassion Monument, and in Appleton, about 14 miles from Gander, there is Peace Park, each built in memory of those who died on 9/11 and in honor of those who cared for the passengers and crew members, people who will forever be grateful for the overwhelming kindness they experienced by complete strangers who became more like family.

The “Come From Away” cast consists of twelve extremely talented individuals supported by a very impressive band. The cast received a very deserved standing ovation at the end followed by each band member playing a short solo to the delight of the audience still standing and swaying to the music and smiling.

Before the show, we ate at Yogi's and then drove to Biddle Hotel where we placed our luggage in our reserved rooms. Some walking was required in order to get to the auditorium, and my aging body was reminded of the hilly nature of the campus which we were somewhat familiar because of a daughter attending IU. The next day, we had breakfast within the vast hotel and conference center where we observed students eating, studying, and socializing. I thought to myself how school had changed since attending Indiana State University in the 70s when we did not have personal computers or smartphones.

But mostly, I thought about the musical and how those responsible for it so expertly conveyed the generosity of Gander, Newfoundland and other local towns in that area. In fact, the musical sparked a high interest in finding out even more about those days, and I purchased an excellent book by Jim Defede: “The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 In Gander, Newfoundland” in which the author contacted around 180 people in his research.

And, I thought of Valentine's Day in Hope, Indiana and how each of us should be generous of heart to those we love and others. For it is the Circle of Giving that makes a profound difference no matter where we are in the world.

Note: I would be very interested in hearing the story of a local resident if they had any ties whatsoever with Gander, Newfoundland for those September days in 2001. In addition, I would be interested in whether a local resident has ever participated in the Screehing-In Ceremony in order to become an honorary Newfie if meeting a series of challenges which includes drinking a rum known as Screech.