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CORAL GABLES
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DELRAY BEACH
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GREATER PALM BEACH
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Jo & Shirley are back from Lewisporte! Shirley had the very great honor to speak to the graduating class and to present 14 scholarships! Jo also presented all the graduating seniors with the People to People International American flag pins. Shirley and Jo said, "It was an awesome trip and we got to see icebergs and moose, among many other wonderful things! Best of all was being able to spend time with our great "Newfie" friends (photos soon)!
Click here to read Shirley
Brooks-Jones 9/11 memories and on... Jo
& Shirley's 3.5-Day Lewisporte Adventure
Delta
#15 - September 11, 2001 Delta Flight #15 departed Frankfurt, Germany at 11:20 AM local time. The passengers settled in for a nine hour flight to Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The flight attendants reviewed safety procedures over a scratchy PA system (since our video screen was also having problems) and then attended to the beverage needs of the passengers. Our pilot, Captain M.G. Sweeney, welcomed us and gave us a few informative details about our flight, weather and expected arrival time at our destination. As the flight continued, passengers became acquainted, took naps and worked on their laptops. Several hours into the flight our attention was alerted to a "PA Announcement" - "Folks, this is your captain. We're having a problem with an indicator light. Since we're so near Newfoundland, we're going to land in Gander and have it checked out before continuing on into Atlanta. It's just 210 miles straight ahead. After a brief discussion with Shirley (Brooks-Jones), about missing our connection, we resigned to our situation and watched the upcoming scenery of Canada. It seemed that we circled over one area and out over the water for sometime. As we were wondering about this, Captain Sweeney came on and explained that we needed to unload 30,000 gallons of fuel before we could land - "just as a precaution". Eventually we were on a landing pattern and as we approached, we noticed several large intercontinental planes lined up on a runway behind a US Air Force Cargo plane. As we taxied closer to the terminal, we saw many more large planes from all over the world - Air France, British Airways, Sabena, ATA, Al Italia, Lufthansa and so on, as well as American operated airplanes such as Delta, USAirways, TWA, Continental, American and United. When we reached our assigned parking spot, Captain Sweeney came on the PA and said, - Folks, what I told you was a hoax. We have been advised that Terrorists have hijacked several commercial flights our of Boston and have flown in the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, DC and crashed in Pennsylvania." He continued telling us what he knew about the series of events and explained that many international flights had been diverted to Newfoundland. He advised us that all US borders were closed, and that he had no idea how long we would be in Gander, but he would keep us advised. As we sat there in shock, a magical attitude came over the passengers, thanks to the calmness of the pilots and the whole crew. As they pursued their duties to make us comfortable. The passengers blended with others, pondering our situation. They watched out the windows as crews of military police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police circled our area, held conferences and worked on plans with other in the communities concerning - "What to do with the 'Plane People'?" After 27 hours aboard the plane, complete with limited rations of snacks, candy bars and warm Pepsi, we were ushered into a terminal building, where friendly Canadian officials checked over our credentials, carry-on items and registered our names. From there we boarded school buses to be taken to shelters in the nearby town of Lewisporte. During our bumpy hour long ride, our driver, Moody (who claimed he was not like his name) kindly stopped long enough for us to view some moose in the field by the road. We arrived at our destination, The Lions Club of Lewisporte, and were greeted warmly by the mayor and his wife (Bill and Thelma Hooper), the president of the Lions Club, Les Penney, and a host of smiling volunteers. The hall was filled with long tables set for dining and in the kitchen quantities of food ready to be served. Provisions for sleeping had been made on the sides of the hall and we were told that showers were available at the school nearby. There were stacks of blankets, towels and other necessities provided for our use also. A TV set provided us with the details of the unbelievable tragedy. For over three days the people of Lewisporte opened their hearts to our to our every need, giving us 24 hour attention at the Club and offering to take us wherever we needed to go. Friends Linda, Shirley and I went with Thelma Hooper to the "Spinning Wheel Craft Shop" and "Bye the Bay" Museum. Here we learned much of the history of these brave and giving Canadians who live in the logging and shipbuilding community of the "Gateway to the North" - Lewisporte. It is their extensive freight and passenger service that provides the link between Newfoundland and Labrador. We were privileged to have a drive around their waterways to view the larger ships in port.
After our tour we returned to the Lions Club and the scent of wonderful cooking by the volunteers in the kitchen, invited us to dinner. By now, we learned about all these dear people had done to prepare for "the Plane People" - giving up sleep "to be ready", providing help and provisions at their own expenses as well as offering free phone calls and e-mail service. We spoke of this to the rest of the passengers and the "Plane People" not only gave them a standing ovation right then, but continued to make donations to a container nearby. We are all truly indebted to these generous friends forever. After dinner that evening, Linda, Shirley and I were invited to spend the night with the mayor and his wife. We shall always remember their gracious hospitality and introduction to Partridgeberry jam at breakfast.
Mayor Hooper and his aides were in constant contact with the Gander Airport and kept us informed of developments. Thirteen of the thirty-nine Intercontinental flights diverted to Gander, were sent back to Ireland and point of origin in Europe. All other flights awaited their orders to proceed when the borders to the USA were opened. On Friday morning, September 14th, as the remnants of Hurricane Erin were pouring down on Gander and Lewisporte, Mayor Hooper announced that Delta #15 would be the first flight to leave for the states. Our delightful hostess, Thelma Hooper, drove us back to the Lions Club where we bid a tearful farewell to all our new found friends who had left footprints on our hearts. I particularly remember Phyllis and Alec Potter, whose smiling manner and joy in giving made you rich to have known them. There were so many names I do not know, but the image of them in my heart will remain forever. And I am particularly indebted to our wonderful friends and hosts, Thelma and Bill Hooper. We boarded our school buses for the ride back to Gander and departure to the USA. This time we went into the main terminal and after a long delay, were guided through intense security screening before boarding our Delta #15 flight. Our same crew, a bit more rested, greeted us and we settled in for the flight to Atlanta. Rations were still a problem, but no one objected. As we were sharing chips and candy bars, the men across the aisle, my friend, Shirley, and others were conferring about the possibility of establishing a college scholarship for a student from Lewisporte. They wrote a proposal which Shirley read over the still scratchy PA and a pledge sheet was passed through the plane. It was suggested that the name of the scholarship would be Delta #15. At the final count, over $15,000 was raised for two students (one from Lewisporte and one from Gander). This was to be matched by Delta and Dr. Ferguson (surgeon from Canada) was to head the project until completion. This project took up most of the flying time and the next thing we knew, we were taxing to the gate in Atlanta. As we looked out the window and disembarked, we were greeted with hundreds of cheering employees, waving flags and signs saying, "Welcome back to the USA!" It was strange to see no other passengers in Immigration and Customs, but the cheers made us feel so welcome to be home. It has been said in many ways - "Out of crises come good." I'm sure that there will be millions of stories such as this to be told and each will have one common denominator, "the milk of human kindness fuels the world in times of need." I am grateful to have experienced this once again. And may God bless our neighbors to the North. May the World soon know Peace again.
Click here to read Shirley Brooks-Jones Story
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