New Yorkers sending World Trade Center relic to Gander as a thank-you
NEW YORK — Fifteen years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City continues to thank the people of Gander, N.L., for opening their arms to thousands of stranded travellers.
A piece of steel beam from the south tower is en route to the airport in Gander, a gift of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, named for a New York firefighter killed while helping to rescue people from the towers.
“The people of Gander … stepped up and performed their own acts of courage and heroism on 9/11 and soon thereafter for the thousands of people who descended upon them or were stranded with no advance notice whatsoever,” said Catherine Christman, a spokeswoman for the foundation and cousin of Stephen Siller.
Nearly 7,000 passengers were stranded for three days in Gander when all flights were grounded, and the people of Gander provided food, lodging and other assistance.