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9/11 anniversary marked by central Newfoundland mayors

Mayors from central Newfoundland, where thousands of travellers landed when air traffic was closed after the 9/11 attacks, held a ceremony to mark the anniversary.

9/11 5th anniversary archival story

9 years ago
Duration 16:42
This story originally aired on 5th anniversary. Barry Power was in one of the towers that morning on a training course when the planes hit

It's been 14 years since hijacked airplanes slammed into the World Trade Centre in New York, a field in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon in Washington.

Mayors from across central Newfoundland gathered in Appleton for a short ceremony to mark Sept. 11, 2001.

Communities in the area hosted thousands of people from planes diverted to Gander when air traffic in North America was grounded.

Lewisporte Mayor Brian Sceviour said these types of ceremonies give people a chance to thank the volunteers involved. 

"All the different groups in the community met — we all found things to organize to get ready because we had every group just about possible working to provide spaces for the people that are coming," he said.

The ceremony took place at Appleton's Peace Park, where a steel beam from the twin towers has been placed.

The seven-metre long piece of twisted steel was donated to the town as a thanks to residents for their response 14 years ago.

We've added a story Here & Now ran, marking the 5th anniversary of 9/11. Reporter David Cochrane and cameraperson Darryl Murphy went to St. Louis, Mo., to interview former Newfoundlander Barry Power.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Power was in one of the towers on a training course when the planes hit.