Today is the 23rd anniversary of the date on which people around the world watched with horror as terrorists, attacked some iconic American landmarks, claiming the lives of thousands of people.
Commercial planes were commandeered by terrorists, and flown into the Twin Towers in New York as well as the Pentagon in Washington.
Passengers managed to wrest control from terrorists on another plane, but it plowed into a field in Pennsylvania, claiming the lives of everyone on board.
While the horrific events left the world reeling, it was the actions of people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador that provided the silver lining.
Area residents opened their hearts, and in some cases, their homes, to thousands of so-called plane people, who had diverted to St. John’s, Goose Bay, Stephenville and Gander when North American airspace was closed for days following the attacks.
That compassion has been the subject of countless articles, books, documentaries and the award-winning musical Come from Away, which is based on what happened in Gander and surrounding area.