Canada Ping!
Posted on 09/08/2014 7:51:23 AM PDT by rktman
On September 11, 2001, Delta Flight 15 received a terse directive: “All airways over the Continental United States are closed to commercial air traffic. Land ASAP at the nearest airport. Advise your destination.” Far out over the Atlantic on a flight from Germany to America, the captain adjusted his heading to land at Gander, Newfoundland.
Those aboard noticed that the airport was cluttered with commercial aircraft, and knew something was terribly wrong. Once on the ground, the captain told them that terrorists had hijacked three domestic flights. They were horrified when he described events involving the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...
Not only did Gander area close their schools, meeting halls and all other available public places to make room for the air travelers, but they organized activities to make their stay memorable and comfortable, not just tolerable.
Back when the U.S. embassy staff was taken hostage in Iran in 1979, I seem to recall that about 30 or so of them managed to escape to the Canadian embassy. The Canadians gave them fake papers and made them part of the crews for the weeks that it took to orderly close down their own operations and orderly evacuate the escapees with their own.
This shows what Canadians are like.
Aren't we all glad to live in North America?
Canada Ping!
Tribute to the people of Gander..
That’s just how Canadians are. I go back to their rescue of american diplomats and staff in Iran in 1979.
Recalling the generosity and kindness of Newfoundlanders, and keeping all affected by Fiona in our prayers this morning.
God bless you.
Don’t let justine trueDOH find out or he may issue a new directive. 😎👌
What delightful people the Newfoundlanders are.
I was embedded with troops on a military flight in 2006 going from Ft. Bliss, TX to Kuwait, where we’d eventually board C-130s to Baghdad.
The plane made a refueling stop at Gander and we were allowed to get off the plane for about 90 minutes to stretch our legs, get snacks, “smoke ‘em if you got ‘em,” etc. As we came off of the plane, there was a line of local citizens to greet us, shaking hands and thanking us for going into harm’s way. (Even us civilians!)
It was a heartwarming experience and we were told by airport staffers that local people came to the airport every time a military flight headed to the Middle East was coming through. What a lovely and heartwarming experience that was.
God bless Gander.
We had a similar thing happen to us in the UK in ‘68. We anchored out in the Thames estuary at South End on Sea and when we were the first US ships there since WWII. You couldn’t buy a meal or a drink in town. People bringing us in their houses for dinner etc. It was pretty dang cool.
I’m so glad to hear that, especially considering how our troops were being treated in the U.S. at that time. You all deserved better and good to know that the U.K. stepped up.
Thank you for your service.
Well, ‘68, a lot of folks still had WWII firmly in their memories so that probably helped. Yeah, in some places in europe (when there were still separate countries) some places had taken the left tilt and we weren’t treated that well in some ports. Copenhagen stands out as having a lot of anti Viet Nam activity aimed at us as U.S. Military. Protests bottle throwing etc. Oh well. Thanks for your service as well.
Just be careful. It's easy to get lost on Amelia Earhart St.
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