I’d been reading Readers’ Digest
For 25 years or more.
Sometimes I’d shed a tear
When words struck me at the core.

Today I read a story
That really hit a nerve.
I shed continual tears
For what this the story does deserve.

The “Kindness of Strangers”
In the October issue
Caused my tears to soak
A whole handful of tissues.

On September 11,
In the year 2001,
The whole world was focused
On what evil had been done.

Repeatedly, on T.V.
The pictures had been shown
Of jetliners used as weapons
On the last mission they had flown.

U.S. air space was now closed.
That was the command.
Planes were to be detoured
And were being forced to land.

There in Newfoundland,
Known also as “The Rock”,
83 jet planes
Were forced to make a stop.

It really could have meant
Another big disaster
But those Newfoundlanders
Are hospitality masters.

They stopped right in their tracks
To give whatever had been needed.
Never had such kindness
E’er been superseded.

They supplied all kinds of lodging
In churches and in schools.
All of their resources
Those Newfoundlanders pooled.

They used the stadium,
And all of the club halls.
Bus drivers who’d been striking
Made the countless hauls.

They opened up their homes,
Gave their beds and set their table.
They helped in any way
At all that they were able.

They cooked many tons of food
And they entertained.
They gave out personal items
More than ever could be named.

They gave out baby food,
Diapers, strollers as need be.
Prescriptions were all filled
And everything they gave was free.

Toiletries, games and toys,
Blankets, quilts and bedding;
A birthday party for a child
Compared to a royal wedding.

The Newfies played their music
Arranged whale watching tours,
Offered cod for them to kiss
And for the brave their screech was poured.

They gave them hugs and kisses
And were there to pray
For blessings on their guests
Who showed up on that day.

And they prayed for their loved ones
In the United States
Who had been directly struck
By this tragic fate.

These guests of Newfoundland
Have found different ways
To repay their new-found friends
So kind and generous whilst their stay.

From the Canadian government
Two million dollars they have gained
But it is assumed
Not all the expenses have been claimed.

Never once before
Had there ever been such hosts
Like these Newfoundlanders
Who humbly do not boast.

At this time in history,
When there’s such evil that we dread
The word of these Newfoundlanders
Has got to be wide spread.

As a Canadian I am proud
Of what these folks have done.
They have spoken very loud
That good will overcome.

But what moves me the most
About Newfoundland
Is that they’re our poorest province
In this prosperous, wealthy land.

These humanitarians
Show such philanthropy.
It really is deep-rooted;
They show compassion naturally.

What these blessed angels did
They did with all their heart.
It was a natural deed
Right from the very start.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To every Newfie that I know
And those I haven’t met,
I tip my hat to you
And know that God will not forget.

May His blessings be abundant
Whilst you are on this earth
And when you meet Him face to face,
I know He’ll recognize your worth.

How proud you’ve earned to be
On that judgment day
For all you’ve done on earth;
For your kind and selfless way.

As ever,
Christel E. Travnik
Devon, Alberta
  Submitted By: NULL