Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
As a Canadian who had just moved to NYC a few months before 9/11, I was no more proud to be Canadian than that fateful day. Operation Yellow Ribbon was put into place within an hour of the US and Canadian airspace being closed (except military operations).
The only public planes permitted were those carrying transoceanic passengers. The next 8 hours, they came from both sides, over 200 flights carrying more than 30000 passengers. While Gander's population took a disproportionate number, other cities like St. John's, Yellowknife, Halifax, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto took in people. While it was agonizing for the stranded people, Canadians tried their best to comfort them.
Watching the profile brought back some of the anxiety of that day, but more importantly reinforced why I am proud to be a Canadian, knowing that as a nation, we were there when we were needed!