When U.S. airspace closed on September 11, 2001, 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. The town had about 12,000 residents. Those planes carried 7,000 passengers. Nobody in Gander had advance warning, and nobody had a plan. What happened next turned into one of the most remarkable stories of generosity in modern history.

Schools and churches opened their doors. The local hockey rink became a massive cooler for food. Volunteers like Beulah Cooper handed out sandwiches, drove strangers to pay phones, and shared their own showers and beds. She described the feeling simply, saying it does so good in here, tapping her chest, to know you’re doing something to help somebody.

That story inspired “Come From Away,” the Tony Award-winning musical its creators call a “9/12 musical” because it focuses on what happened the morning after the attacks, not the attacks themselves. Former Mayor Claude Elliott has seen the show 139 times across six countries. Have you seen “Come From Away,” or is this story new to you? Tell us in the comments.