Let's write about helping Gander Newfoundlanders during September 11th anniversary memorial

Reported in the Canadian Broadcasting (CBC) by Alex Kennedy

Gander, Newfoundland gave Americans a lift on 9/11. 25 years later, it was the other way around. American tour bus helps Royal Newfoundland Regiment band get to commemorative service on time.

Royal Newfoundland Regiment Warrant Officer Hannah Gaultois, Prime Tours owner Lisa Busch, and Royal Newfoundland Regiment Sgt. Maj. Dave Connolly had an impromptu meeting in Gander on Friday when the Regiment's band saw their vehicle break down as they were heading to the town's 9/11 commemorative service, and they got a lift to the event from Busch's tour bus. (CBC)

On a day when the compassion of people in Gander, N.L. was being celebrated, a chance encounter at a chicken restaurant led to a tour bus of Americans repaying the favor.

A vehicle carrying members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment's military band broke down while heading to the town's commemorative 9/11 service on Friday, so the tour bus picked them up and brought them to the Steele Community Centre.

Sgt. Maj. Dave Connolly told CBC News the band was stopped at a Mary Brown's Chicken restaurant when the worst-case scenario struck.

"We're getting back to the bus, and of course, it just won't start. So we're waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and we're thinking, 'OK, we have to get there soon," Connolly said. "There was a couple tour buses there, and I said, 'Well, might as well try."

Connolly, along with Warrant Officer Hannah Gaultois, tracked down one of the drivers and explained their situation. But they weren't in uniform, and that didn't make it a convincing sell, Connolly said.

But once Prime Tours owner Lisa Busch got involved, and saw the group's instruments, she knew what she had to do.

"The whole Come From Away story is running in my mind in the background," Busch said, referring to the Broadway musical detailing Gander's compassion toward travelers diverted to the community on 9/11.

So, the instruments were piled on board, and everyone was able to make it to the community arena on time.

"We're here for the same friendship reasons … It was fun to be a part of," Busch said.

Busch, who came to Gander from Ohio, was leading a group of 14 tourists in town to mark the anniversary. She said she knew about the story of residents' support through Shirley Brooks-Jones, an Ohioan who was diverted to Gander on 9/11.

Brooks-Jones established the Lewisporte Area Flight 15 Scholarship Fund as a result of the care that passengers received.

Connolly said the irony of the save from the American tourists wasn't lost on him 25 years later.

"It's just incredible. It's just one of those things, and it was just they're generosity...it really helped out at the right moment," he said.