T
he story of 9/11 and the World Trade Center towers are well-known. Many acts of heroism and bravery on the part of New York’s firefighters and a host of other brave people have been well publicized. But not many people know of another heroic story that played out on that fateful and terrible day.
When the United States closed its airspace due to the terrorist attacks, it meant that all international flights had to be diverted to Canada. On September 11, 2001, almost 400 flights were headed westbound over the Atlantic Ocean. Over 200 flights were able to turn back to Europe, but 167 were too far across to turn back.
Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, an island off the northeast coast of Canada, was the control center for all of this air traffic. Between St. John’s, Halifax and Gander, all 167 planes were safely landed. But it was Gander’s part on that fateful day that was so extraordinary and memorable. Without preparation or foreknowledge, they were suddenly going to be the host for nearly 7,000 stranded passengers. Their kindness, generosity and hospitality would never be forgotten by the grateful people who experienced it.
Gander Airport, although small, was well able to handle the 38 planes that filled its tarmac that day. It had been a refueling stop for transatlantic flights in the past, and before that, it was a military base for planes watching for boats in World War II. So handling the big jets was easy. A far tougher problem was what to do with the nearly 7,000 people on those planes.
One by one, the mayors of Gander and the surrounding areas addressed each problem as it arose. The bus drivers were on strike, but every one of them came back to work in order to transport people to where they needed to go.
A town of Gander’s size, with not quite 10,000 people, only had some 500 hotel beds, so Gander and the neighboring towns closed down their elementary schools and opened them up for the “plane people,” along with churches and Legion Halls. When they ran out of space in these buildings, the townspeople warmly welcomed people into their own homes, offering them showers, toiletries and food.
Since everyone was without their checked bags, many did not have their medications or extra clothing. The two pharmacies in town filled each and every prescription for free. Store owners opened their shops and told the people to take whatever clothing they needed.
Gander and the surrounding area’s restaurants could not possibly handle this influx of people. The Salvation Army and Red Cross, along with the residents, donated an enormous amount of food and casseroles. Where to put it all? The solution was Gander’s ice rink. They simply placed food on the ice surface — it became known as the world’s largest refrigerator.
Banks of phones were installed for people to use, free of charge. It didn’t matter where they had to call or how long the call was. Schools’ computer rooms were set up so people could send e-mails. Students made themselves available to help those who needed it.
Another Shelter
Those stranded passengers found a welcoming and safe shelter in a very real time of need. But did you know that there is another shelter that we are all in need of? It is a shelter from God’s righteous judgment towards our sins. Because we have all sinned and because God cannot allow sin into His holy presence, we need to be made clean in His sight. If we are not made clean and acceptable in His sight, God says, “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). This is a very serious and faithful warning that God gives to us, and we need to listen to what He says.
But that is just one side of the story. God not only warns us of judgment to come, but He also tells us of a way of escape. It is found through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Jesus lived on this earth and was nailed to Calvary’s cross for our sins. He became the perfect sin offering for our sins, paying our penalty for them. We are told, “He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). This means that God is perfectly satisfied with the work that Jesus did on Calvary’s cross for our sins. Now we need to accept God’s gift of salvation. We need to accept the Lord Jesus as our own personal Savior. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Just as those passengers found a sure and safe refuge in time of trouble, when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we have a sure and certain refuge for our souls. We will be able to say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:11<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)).
Gratefulness
The passengers were so moved by the generosity and kindness of the Newfoundlanders that they found it hard to leave. They all tried to leave them some money as a token of their appreciation, but it was refused. On the way home, Shirley Brooks-Jones, one of the passengers of Delta Flight 15, came up with a plan to help the young people of the area, as a way to show their gratitude for all that had been done for them. Apparently, many of the young people had dropped out of high school because there were no jobs to be had. So they came up with the idea of a scholarship for the village of Lewisporte and the outlying areas around it. As of last year, 228 young people have received that scholarship, many of them making the most of the opportunity to become productive members of society. It was a beautiful and practical way for the grateful passengers to express their appreciation for all that had been done for them.
Those of us who have trusted the Lord as our Savior will spend all eternity praising Him for His great gift of salvation. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15) will be the song on our lips and in our hearts. Will you be among them?
Refugees, like stranded passengers, face many struggles far from home. But who are the ultimate refugees? Find out in The Refugee Crisis.