The Worst of Man Brings out the Best in Man

[Donna K & Quincy]

 
On a sunny September day 10 years ago, I was at work going about the day just like any other when I passed by a patient,s room to see everyone gathered around the television with looks of horror on their face. I joined them and watched a plane fly in to the first of the Twin Towers. I could not believe what I was seeing and thought what a terrible, terrible accident, but within minutes my sense of horror was multiplied beyond belief as another plane flew into the second tower. It seemed as if the world stood still and I could not absorb what was happening as the towers began to collapse. New York is a long way from Newfoundland but little did I know the results of this tragedy would literally be at our doorstep.
I went outside for lunch and watched a very surreal scene unfold as dozens of planes came in to land within minutes of each other. The US airspace was closed and all flights were being diverted and accepted for landing in Canada. By this time, that it was a terrorist attack had become known and all of these planes were being landed not knowing what they were bringing , were there more bombs, were there terrorists still on board, were we in the same danger that was devastating America?
My mind was filled with thoughts of those in New York and for all of the others still on the planes fearing for their lives and worrying about loved ones back home.
That this was happening was almost more than I could comprehend, but driving home that evening and seeing all those planes sitting on the runway there was an eerie pall sitting over the city.That day 21 planes landed in St. John's with another 38 landing in Gander. The town of Gander had it's population double in just a few hours. The people on those planes spents many long hours sitting on the runway, unable to leave the planes until the planes had been searched and all the passengers cleared. I always think that it was just terrible that it took so long, but not knowing if there were still dangers everything had to be done very carefully and no one was prepared for the enormous task that clearing all these planes would take.
While all of these passengers were sitting, waiting and worrying as many of them had no idea where they had landed or what they could expect in what was a strange land for them, the folks of Newfoundland had sprung into action and had made ready for all of the unexpected guests.
Newfoundland has always prided it's self on being a friendly helpful place that would do it's best to help those who needed it, and now they were going to have to prove it.
I've added a video that explains a small part of what happened in Newfoundland following the tragic day of 9 11.
Like our American friends, that day will never be far from our hearts and minds and as this tenth anniversary is memorialized, we can only pray that such a scene will never again be witnessed.

 
"There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope". George Eliot

This is dedicated to those who lost their lives in this tragedy and to the loved one they left behind.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Thank you for sharing this.  I have tears in my eyes. We love our Canadian neighbors to the north of us!!!!!  None of us will EVER forget that day. Monday night we had a family dinner and we all went around the table and discussed our "where we were on 9/11" stories.  Mom told me it's similar to when JFK was assassinated in Dallas.  That was before I was alive, but everyone that lived through it can tell you exactly where they were....

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you and your countrymen for your support and caring in this time of tragedy.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

There are few days I will never forget...this is one of them. Still breaks my heart that this happened and so many people lost their lives that day. Innocent people! Thank you for writing this blog and thanks for sharing. I never knew about the planes landing so near where you live. I guess many more people than we knew about came to our aid.