The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

Visitors to Newfoundland can become honorary Newfies by undergoing a “Screeching-In” ceremony. According to a scholar of Newfoundland traditions, it can be “an elaborate affair” (171), which includes answering a series of questions, kissing a newly caught cod, eating “Newfoundland delicacies,” and downing a shot of Screech, a strong Jamaican rum nicknamed for the response it evokes in the drinker. After completing the ceremony, the initiate receives a certificate.

During the passengers’ time on the island, hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of visitors underwent the initiation. It was especially popular at the Trailways Pub in Gambo, where Winnie completed the ritual. After she secured her certificate, a karaoke machine appeared, and Jessica Naish got her wish: Beatles tribute band member Paul Moroney sang John Lennon’s Imagine and then performed three more Beatles songs with Peter Ferris, to the crowd’s delight. Locals remembered the night for a long time.

Hurricane Erin veered away from Newfoundland, allowing the Lopers and Saaristas to depart on the ferry as planned, but conditions were choppy. Tera, who was five months pregnant, spent most of the six-hour trip vomiting, and Roxanne’s flu symptoms intensified, but by Saturday night, they were within 50 miles of the US.

One of the dogs, Ralph, seemed ill. After Doc Tweedie smuggled him out of the airplane hangar to give him a checkup, he discovered that the dog was merely exhausted from around-the-clock visitors coming to play with him. He issued strict orders that the dog have time to sleep.

The Delta flight on which the Moldovans were traveling was scheduled to depart, but it would be flying to the airline’s hub in Atlanta. Since their entry papers required that they travel through New York, they stayed in Gander until officials could arrange a flight to New York.

Hannah and Dennis left Dublin on Saturday morning. Their children, Patricia and Dennis, met them at the airport but had no news about Kevin. They went to his home immediately for an emotional family reunion.

Rabbi Sudak and Eithne Smith were sitting together when a fax of thanks arrived from Werner Kolb, who had returned home to the Netherlands. He recalled only one previous experience of being treated so well: when he was “liberated in Holland in 1945,” (183), likewise by “wonderful Canadians.” Rabbi Sudak shared his own words of gratitude. That afternoon, he received a visit from Ed Brake, a Jewish native of Poland. Brake’s parents “had paid to have him smuggled” (183) to England in the late 1930s, when he was seven or eight. He believed his birth family was taken to the camps and died there. He moved to Newfoundland with his adoptive family, who did not allow him to speak about his Jewish past and reacted violently when he attempted to do so. He revealed his past to his wife only 10 years earlier. She was Catholic and raised their children in her faith. Rabbi Sudak urged him to share his story more publicly, but Brake responded that his family did not want him to speak out. Telling the Rabbi his story eased a burden he had been carrying. After Brake left, Rabbi Sudak stopped wondering why he had been brought to Newfoundland.

Pat and Frank Fletcher drover up from Maine to take the Lopers and Saaristas across the border. The Lopers were anxious to return home during this difficult time for their nation. In addition, crossing into the US would be the moment when they would secure Alexandria’s legal citizenship. Clark decided to walk her across the border and had Roxanne capture the moment on film. Once in their vans, they passed Logan International Airport, New York City, and Washington. Without intending to, they were passing the “sites involved in the terrorist attacks” (187).

Eithne and Carl Smith helped arrange flights for Rabbi Sudak and the Hechts, the other Orthodox Jewish passengers. They needed to leave within 24 to arrive in New York before sundown on Rosh Hashanah. Otherwise, they would be unable to travel until after the holy days. Due to intense security, none of the flights departing from Gander allowed new passengers, but the Smiths found a flight out of Stephenville. They drove Rabbi Sudak and the Hechts five hours to the airport. Carl gifted the rabbi a Mountie hat. Rabbi Sudak asked Eithne to give him a list of names of friends and family for whom she would like him to pray.

Only 126 hours separated the first plane arriving in and the last plane departing from Gander. During that time, residents saw how a distant tragedy could have effects locally, and they gave everything they had without questions or reservations. When the provincial government offered to throw a party to thank the volunteers, the people of Gander declined. Given the scope of the tragedy, they felt it would be inappropriate. Besides, they did not feel the need for a celebration. What they did “was the Newfie way” (191).

Kevin O’Rourke’s body was found on September 23, 2001. Following the funeral, Hannah attended mass every morning, allowing herself to cry in church but refraining the rest of the day. She never forgot the kindness of the people of Gander and remained in touch with Beulah Cooper and Tom Mercer.

George Vitale returned home on Saturday and returned to work on Monday, working 16-hour days. His friend David DeRubbio was never found. Vitale dreaded returning to his Brooklyn apartment. His morning run, which had once provided solace, became an emotional reminder of loss. He frequently felt anger, sadness, depression, and guilt. One especially bad day, he received a call from Derm Flynn, a Gander resident with whom Vitale had become friends. Flynn repeatedly seemed to call exactly when Vitale was feeling the worst.

Deborah Farrar and Greg Curtis remained in touch, but Curtis, a Marine Lieutenant, was deployed to Afghanistan. The Neals remained close with their former houseguests, visiting them in Texas in April and traveling to England in May 2022 for Winnie’s wedding.

A Lakewood Academy teacher found a beautiful chalk and crayon painting on a sixth-grade classroom’s blackboard, created by “renowned Dutch artist” (197) Clemens Briels, who was a passenger on one of the planes. The school removed the blackboard, framed it, covered it in Plexiglass, and hung it in the school library.

Captain Knoth shared his passenger Werner Baldessarini’s feelings that their experience was “a special moment in time” (198). He believed that they must see their trip through to the end. When passengers disagreed about whether to complete their journey to New York or return to Germany, Knoth arranged to fly into JFK Airport in New York for the Americans to disembark and to put the Europeans on an immediate flight back to Germany.

Following the passengers’ departures, rumors about alleged famous passengers made rounds, many untrue. One that was true was that actor Woody Harrelson’s wife and children were among the stranded passengers. They remained in Gander and departed with their flight. Another famous passenger was Marisa Berenson, who was a supermodel and actress in the 1970s. “By a cruel coincidence” (199), her sister Berry was on the hijacked plane that flew into the WTC’s North Tower.

Neither Pam Coish nor Pastor Russell Bartlett followed up with Denise Gray-Felder about her offer of grants from the Rockefeller Center, but she followed up with them and ensured that they received the grants. Other passengers likewise made donations; collections and pledges began while they were still in Gander. Delta Flight 15 created a college scholarship program.

During her long journey, Roxanne’s flu turned into pneumonia, but the family finally made it home.

DeFede suggested updating the book for the 20th anniversary of September 11.

In the years after the book was published, many people and organizations invited DeFede to speak. At a women’s correctional center, the book’s message of hope resonated strongly. The women asked about Ralph the dog, the monkeys, the Lopers and Alexandria, and whether Deb and Greg got married. DeFede began to wonder how their days in Gander affected the passengers and tracked down as many of the people the book mentions as he could find.

The Lopers planned to adopt a third child but later discovered that Roxanne was pregnant. She had Malachi in 2003, Eli in 2006, and Macy in 2009. The “Tent Girls,” Sara Wood and Lisa Zale, remained close. Both have been invited to speak to book clubs about their Gander experiences and would like to visit again.

George Vitale continued to struggle with guilt but called his experience in Gander “wonderful,” saying he “never experienced anything like that” (207). He discovered a love for Taekwondo, achieved the highest-degree Black Belt, and helped “plan exhibitions between North and South Korea” (207) believing that sports can help “bridge the gap between nations” (207). He continued to worry about the future and wondered whether it was possible to have the unity exhibited after September 11 “without the pain that caused the unity” (207).

Tom McKeon, who stayed with Vitale at the Flynn home, felt similarly that recent years have signaled a return to unkindness, especially in politics. Married since 2005, McKeon is father to two children and remained in contact with the Flynns. Flynn retired and traveled to various cities around the world to see Come from Away. The Flynns opened their home, hosting events for visitors to Newfoundland. Tour buses became a common sight in Gander, which Doc Tweedie believed was good for Gander, but other locals disagreed, feeling that they should not be rewarded or seek attention for simply doing the right thing.

Though Deb and Greg did not remain together, one love story did emerge from Gander: English engineer Nick Marson and Texan Diane Gray married in September 2002. Diane called their meeting evidence that good things can come even “[i]n the darkest of circumstances” (212).

Dennis O’Rourke died in January 2019 at age 86. Kevin’s wife never remarried. Hannah remained in contact with Beulah Cooper.

Some Newfoundlanders objected to the mythologizing of their region, noting that “no community is as perfect as the stories might suggest” (216). DeFede believes the lesson of their generosity and kindness is not that the place and people are exceptional but that they came together to do something exceptional despite their shortcomings. In doing so, they provided an inspiration and model for others.