Books and Brews

About this event

Join us at Coles Road Brewing to discuss [The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland](https://catalog.berlinpeck.org/search/card?id=55e5ece2-2690-5df2-b99d-fb2c80be6757&entityType=FormatGroup) by Jim DeFede. Contact the library for a copy of the book. Drinks are available for purchase, but there is no charge to attend the book club. Attendees are welcome to bring their own dinner or a snack to share. No outside drinks. ## About the Book When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. The citizens of Gander met the stranded passengers with an overwhelming display of friendship and goodwill. As the passengers stepped from the airplanes, exhausted, hungry and distraught after being held on board for nearly 24 hours while security checked all of the baggage, they were greeted with a feast prepared by the townspeople. Local bus drivers who had been on strike came off the picket lines to transport the passengers to the various shelters set up in local schools and churches. Linens and toiletries were bought and donated. A middle school provided showers, as well as access to computers, email, and televisions, allowing the passengers to stay in touch with family and follow the news. Over the course of those four days, many of the passengers developed friendships with Gander residents that they expect to last a lifetime. As a show of thanks, scholarship funds for the children of Gander have been formed and donations have been made to provide new computers for the schools. This book recounts the inspiring story of the residents of Gander, Canada, whose acts of kindness after the 9/11 attacks have touched the lives of thousands of people and been an example of humanity and goodwill.