ALTON - The City of Alton welcomed one of the most well-known former mayors in North America to share his 9/11 story of kindness and community.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, Alton Mayor David Goins met Claude Elliott, the former mayor of Gander in Newfoundland. Gander, population 9,300, took in 7,000 passengers from around the world for five days following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Elliott shared more about the town’s work on 9/12 and the days following the attacks, and he highlighted his belief that anyone would do the same.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
“We ask no questions. We don’t ask what church you go to. We don’t ask who you vote for,” Elliott said. “If you’re cold, we’ll give you clothes. If you’re hungry, we’ll give you food. If you’re tired, we’ll give you somewhere to sleep. And that’s all we need to know about people, because in the long run, there’s not that much difference in any of us.”
Elliott has been touring small towns across Illinois over the past week to spread his message. Goins joked that he originally thought he had received a “scam email” when Elliott contacted him, but the idea of meeting this man “kept gnawing” at Goins until he agreed to welcome him to Alton.
Goins and his team met with Elliott and asked questions about his experience during 9/11. Elliott explained that it was “horrific” to see the news reports on 9/11. But he is proud that Gander could step up and help, and he believes anyone and any community would do the same.
The U.S. military built an airport in Gander so they could refuel planes on their way to Europe during World War II. On 9/11, 38 planes were rerouted to Gander. Elliott — who was serving as the town’s mayor at the time — declared a state of emergency, and the town got to work preparing for these stranded passengers.
People were on the tarmac at the Gander airport for up to 28 hours. With a total of 500 hotel rooms in Gander, the entire town had to open their doors to these passengers. Churches and schools became shelters, and the local branch of the Salvation Army made 275,000 meals over the course of five days.
Private citizens also welcomed “the plane people” into their homes. A few of them became close friends.
One Gander resident, Beulah Cooper, consoled passenger Hannah O’Rourke as O’Rourke worked to get in contact with her son, a New York City firefighter. Davis and O’Rourke continued to talk on the phone every night until O’Rourke’s death a few months ago.
Nick Marson, a London man, met American Diane Gray because their planes were diverted to Gander. They’re still married today. Elliott said other Gander residents still visit the folks they housed during those five days.
“Out of all of that terrible tragedy, it’s the friendships that’s been made,” he said. “That’s just the way that we are. We look after everybody. We take care of everybody…We’re not superstars. We’re not movie stars. We’re not heroes. We’re nothing. We’re just ordinary people who do it and want nothing in return. When the people left and we saw the smiles on their faces and the tears of joy, we were paid in full.”
But, Elliott shared, the town has “received plenty back.” One planeful of passengers established a scholarship for the local school where they slept during those five days. The town has a piece of the World Trade Center, given as a thank-you from the United States, and Elliott himself has a piece secured in a plaque at his house.
A Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “Come From Away,” has been written about Gander and will be performed at Alton Little Theater in 2027.
Elliott had never seen a musical before the writers of “Come From Away” approached him; now he has seen the show 144 times in six different countries. Earlier this week, Elliott stopped at Southern Illinois University Carbondale to watch their production.
He is proud that the story lives on. He hopes people continue to speak about Gander and are inspired to spread kindness through what happened there in 2001.
“We love it because if this story is to continue, that’s the next generation that gets to tell it,” he added. “We hope that it will, and this good news story will resonate around the world for years after all of us who are characters won’t be around.”
