Come From Away Commemorative Committee

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Honoring The 25th Anniversary Of September 11

September 11, 2001, was a day of profound and devastating loss, one that changed our country and our world forever. For those who lived through it, the memories of the grief, fear and uncertainty of those hours have never fully left us.

But something else has remained with us as well: the memory of how Americans, and our friends around the globe, responded.

The aftermath of 9/11 gave way to courage, compassion and generosity toward strangers. It was defined by a spirit of unity that, in those dark hours, felt both improbable and undeniable. Twenty-five years later, as the generation that lived through 9/11 begins to pass the story on to those who did not experience it firsthand, that inspiring response deserves to be remembered with the gravity and hope it warrants, reflecting what President Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.”

Ford’s Theatre will mark this solemn anniversary with a new production of Come From Away, the true story of the 7,000 transatlantic airline passengers grounded in Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11 and the gracious response of the town’s 9,000 residents. The production and additional public programming will be underwritten by the Commemorative Committee, a distinguished group of leaders who remember the unity our nation displayed in those dark hours and who share our desire to reignite that spirit today.

Committee members will help new generations understand this critical chapter in our nation’s history by: 

• Lending their names to inspire others to join this historic commemoration and being recognized alongside Honorary Chairs President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush and Committee Chairs Anita and Tim McBride as leaders of this effort.  

• Attending the Opening Night Celebration of Come From Away on September 16, 2026, as honored guests and receiving invitations to special Come From Away education and community programs.  

• Receiving exclusive access to recognition and benefits throughout the 2026–2027 season.  

For more information, including a full listing of membership benefits, please contact: 

Sarah J. Wilber, Director of Development, Ford’s Theatre | [email protected]