[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 31, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING ON THE OCCASION OF THE 52ND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CANADA-
   UNITED STATES INTER-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP IN SEPTEMBER, 2011 IN ST. 
 JOHN'S NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, CANADA, THE IMMEASURABLE ASSISTANCE 
    GANDER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, AND THE 
 CITIZENS OF GANDER, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, PROVIDED TO THE UNITED 
STATES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES 
                         ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 31, 2011

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to introduce a 
resolution recognizing and thanking Gander International Airport, the 
citizens of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador and the people and 
Government of Canada for the immeasurable assistance they provided to 
the United States on September 11, 2001.
  Following the terrorist attacks and the closure of U.S. airspace, 
flights en route to the United States were rerouted to airports across 
Canada. The Canadian government instituted Operation Yellow Ribbon, 
closing their own airspace along with the U.S. for the first time in 
the history of both countries and safely landing 239 aircraft destined 
for the U.S. and Canada at 17 airports across Canada.
  Gander International Airport, located in Gander, Newfoundland and 
Labrador, Canada, was one such airport to welcome flights bound for the 
U.S. The small community of Gander has a population of less than 
10,000, and Gander International Airport was only scheduled to receive 
a total of eight flights that day. Yet it received the second most 
number of flights, 38, and the second most number of passengers, 6,600, 
out of all the Canadian airports during Operation Yellow Ribbon. What 
transpired over the course of the next three days in that small 
community will forever stand as an inspirational story of kindness and 
generosity during a time of enormous adversity.
  As stranded passengers waited for the U.S. to reopen its airspace, 
the people of Gander responded by donating food, clothing, shelter and 
medicine. Citizens of Gander welcomed stranded passengers into their 
homes, held sightseeing and whale watching trips, and organized 
impromptu concerts to strengthen morale and provide emotional support. 
No request was too large and no call for help went unanswered.
  The outpouring of kindness and support from the people of Gander was 
so remarkable and memorable for everyone involved that the stranded 
passengers have since sponsored scholarships for Newfoundlanders, 
donated computer equipment to area communities, financed a new 
conference room for the Gander area community of Lewisporte and held 
annual reunions to show their appreciation for the goodwill of the 
citizens of Gander.
  The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States are 
well documented. However we must also officially recognize and 
acknowledge the tremendous assistance we received that day from the 
citizens of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Gander International 
Airport and the entire nation of Canada.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
thanking the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador for their 
kindness and generosity during the most devastating terrorist attack in 
American history. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the people of 
Gander as well as the entire nation of Canada.

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