When thirty-eight jetliners bound for the United States were
forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001, sue to the
closing of U.S. airspace, the citizens of this small community and surrounding
towns were called upon to care for the thousands of distraught travelers.
Their response to this challenge was truly extraordinary. Oz
Fudge, the town constable, searched all over Gander for a flight-crew member so
that he could give her a hug as a favour to her sister, who managed to reach
him by phone. Eithne Smith, an elementary school teacher, helped the passengers
sheltered at her school fax letters to love ones all over the world. And
members of a local animal protection agency crawled into the cargo holds of the
jets to feed and care for all of the animals on the flights.
These stories and hundreds more are beautifully rendered in The Day the World came to Town, the true
account of a community that exemplifies love, kindness, and generosity.
