A true story of Americans coming together across politics, religion, race and the urban-rural divide in a time of tragedy.
A true story of Americans coming together across politics, religion, race and the urban-rural divide in a time of tragedy.
Three weeks after the 9/11 attacks, when the world was afraid to get on a plane much less fly to New York City, 1,000 courageous Oregonians did just that. It was a mission of kindness and caring called the Flight for Freedom.
The Flight for Freedom played an important role in turning the city around after the September 11 attacks, said former New York Governor George Pataki.
Led by Portland Mayor Vera Katz, the Freedom Fliers were a cross-section of America: bartenders, teachers, garlic farmers. In just three days — October 6–8 — they held a memorial service at Union Square, went into Ground Zero, spoke at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s Blessing of the Animals and hosted dinner for 700 in hard-hit C
Led by Portland Mayor Vera Katz, the Freedom Fliers were a cross-section of America: bartenders, teachers, garlic farmers. In just three days — October 6–8 — they held a memorial service at Union Square, went into Ground Zero, spoke at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s Blessing of the Animals and hosted dinner for 700 in hard-hit Chinatown.
Despite rising security threats on their last day, they opened the New York Stock Exchange and marched in the Columbus Day Parade, deluged with love from grateful New Yorkers.
By simply being present for another person, by willingly stepping into the grief that permeated New York, the Freedom Fliers experienced an intimate, personal portrait of New Yorkers after 9/11 that we have never seen before. The Oregonians received stories of survival, loss and gratitude from traumatized survivors whose New York City was
By simply being present for another person, by willingly stepping into the grief that permeated New York, the Freedom Fliers experienced an intimate, personal portrait of New Yorkers after 9/11 that we have never seen before. The Oregonians received stories of survival, loss and gratitude from traumatized survivors whose New York City was papered in “Missing” flyers and downtown covered in soot.
“We have sent blood. We have sent money. Now we have to send ourselves.”
Sally Ruth Bourrie was driven to document the story of the Flight for Freedom in the award-winning Oregon Loves New York: A Story of American Unity After 9/11 after she covered it as a journalist, and saw firsthand the power of everyday people and human-to-human contact. It's a story of bravery and love and coming together we need today more than ever.
Oregon Loves New York has been selected for the collections of the Library of Congress and the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It has also been chosen as a finalist for History in the Independent Author Network Annual Awards and a nominee for the Eric Hoffer Award.
Sally’s been a writer-editor for decades. From tech publications to most major newspapers to Motorola, the J. Paul Getty Museum and National Gallery of Art and the Farm Credit Administration.
Sally graduated from Vassar with a double major in art history and political science and went on to get her master’s degree in art history and museum studies at the University of Southern California.
"The symbolic commitment to be a part of the recovery of New York from these horrible attacks meant a great deal to all New Yorkers and sent a very positive message to the entire nation. The Flight for Freedom demonstrated that people from 3,000 miles across the continent felt comfortable and safe in the streets, and that message got out in the rest of the country."
Former New York Governor George Pataki
"Oregonians of a previous age, they walked 3,000 miles to go there, despite the hardships and some fear that our forebears had. Oregonians of our time showed courage to board airplanes at a time of severe restriction and insecurity and showed with their wallets and their shoe leather that hearts were one with New Yorkers. This was a bright, shining moment for Oregon."
Former Oregon Senator Gordon H. Smith
"With Oregonians’ Flight for Freedom, the people of my State are standing shoulder to shoulder with the citizens of New York in an effort to make clear that no terrorist can break the American spirit. I urge all Americans to follow their example."
Senator Ron Wyden speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate,
October 4, 2001
"I came to this country sixty years ago as a refugee, an immigrant, with absolutely nothing, no hope, no future except what we’re going to make of it—and here I am leading the delegation down Fifth Avenue. And then, to see New Yorkers opening up their hearts to us. Not only did they give me something back, we were able to give them something back. It was just mind-blowing for all of us."
Portland Mayor Vera Katz on leading the Freedom Fliers in the 2001
New York Columbus Day Parade on the anniversary of arriving in
New York City as a Holocaust refugee
"Here we are, we Oregonians—firefighters, teachers, students, bus drivers, business owners, elected officials, Republicans and Democrats, Christians, Jews, and Muslims. In other words, everyday people, everyday Oregonians, on this freedom flight."
Ron Saxton, Portland school board member and Freedom Flier
"Something powerful happened in New York. We had a rare opportunity to experience the healing power of human-to-human contact and to honor our highest nature."
Jan Woodruff, Portland State University Director of Marketing
and Freedom Flier
