Take A Gander
If any small Canadian town has shown steadfast support of the U.S., it’s Gander, Newfoundland. In a piece in the New York Times this week, Beulah Cooper, an 85-year-old Gander resident, says that on 9/11, Gander was the best ally we had.
Shortly after the attacks, the U.S. closed its airspace and international flights were diverted. Thirty-eight planes carrying about 7,000 passengers landed in Gander, many of them Americans with no idea what was happening back home. The people of Gander rallied to help. Volunteers stayed with the stranded passengers around the clock, making sure they were taken care of and putting them up in schools, churches and private homes.
I was always interested in this story because when my old man served in the Army during World War II, he was stationed at the base in Gander. He said it was a great town.
Well, a lot has changed since 2001. After we slapped tariffs on Canada, they slapped back. It’s hurting businesses and consumers on both sides of the border, including here in New England. Canadians feel hurt and disappointed. Many feel they’ve been insulted and disrespected.
Nevertheless, every year since 9/11, Gander has commemorated the tragedy, and many of the passengers who were stranded there return to be with the people who looked out for them back then. And despite the tensions between our two countries today, I’m willing to bet the Canadians will treat those Americans just like they did back then.
Canada is our best friend, neighbor and ally. What the hell are we doing? Never forget Gander, Newfoundland. Keep your dukes up.
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