No one expects to be a refugee...
Newfoundland 9/11
The moving story of Newfoundland 9/11 depicts the real life experiences of what happened in Gander (population c.10,000) on that fateful morning as the planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York and America shut down its airspace.
Finally, after 36 hours, the traumatised and scared travelers were let off the planes to be embraced, fed and clothed by the population of Newfoundland.
The local community was galvanized to support these stranded people, opening their homes and hearts to them all.
Two of the passengers, Peter Ferris and Paul Moroney, were returning to America, where they had just toured with “The Beatles Band”, a cover band performing as the Beatles and played and headlined an open air gig in front of 110,000 people.
"The Beatles Band" headlining main stage at Lubbock, Texas in front of 110,000 people
For five long days we were scared and stranded passengers,” said Peter, a musician and actor from Penarth who plays the part of Beatle George Harrison.
“For 36 hours, we were stuck on the plane and couldn’t even call home to let loved ones know what was happening. Then we were sleeping on a fire station floor – ‘refugees’ in a strange country needing the help and handouts of the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. The humanity we encountered was so moving and we hope Newfoundland 9/11 will be a testament to that,” he added.
“The documentary aims to return a number of the passengers to Newfoundland and reunite them with the people who took care of them,”s.
“Newfoundland 9/11 examines the impact this experience had on these people’s lives, both the ‘refugees’ and the ‘locals’ as they retell their stories. The band had been asked to perform for the passengers in a neighbourhood bar where they sang a number of Beatles songs, many of which are about Love and Peace, uniting the passengers and locals in the true spirit of the moment,” she explained.
“The final aim is to take 9/11 back from the terrorists and not let it be used to frighten people into hatred and more wars but rather to show the love, generosity and humanity a situation like this can inspire. We aim to show how this experience changed lives, for some profoundly,” she added.
For more, see www.newfoundland911.com
Peter as George Harrison
