Destination Gander to honour town's hospitality during 9/11 with monument

A group in Gander is on a mission to establish a permanent, outdoor monument to mark the town's role during the tragic attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Town residents took in thousands of stranded passengers as the world came to grips with terrorist hijackings that led to passenger jet crashes in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.   

Two pieces of steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center were donated to Gander in recognition of hospitality shown to displaced airline passengers. 

One piece of steel is on permanent display at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum.

Destination Gander has plans to include the second piece of steel, which is currently mounted in the town hall, as part of a larger, outdoor display.

"It's something, a lasting memento to the really positive impact that Gander had on the world stage during that event," said Cory Abbott, the group's marketing manager.

"And like I say, not really looking at it as a memorial — but more of a monument to the positives that came out of a very tragic event."

Abbott said the town supports the idea, which he admits is in the very early stages of development.

He said fundraising campaigns are underway to cover the estimated $100,000 cost of the monument.