Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 09/01) - The crew of flight 876 gave Yellowknife a thank-you gift last week -- 240 specially-designed baseball hats.

On Sept. 11, the United Airlines Boeing 777, destined for Seattle, Wash., and Denver, Colo. was diverted to Yellowknife.

Yellowknifers rallied around the stranded crew and passengers, offering accommodation, entertainment, tours of the city and a myriad of other services.

Afterwards a passenger created a Web site, www.flight876.com, so everyone could keep in touch.

United Airlines flight manager Ulrika Wallener said the captain and his wife came up with the idea to send the hats.

"He felt that the town went to such extreme measures to help make everybody feel comfortable, that he wanted to do something," she said.

"The whole experience showed him there is still a lot of good in the world."

The flight path and date are stitched onto the hats.

"It's very thoughtful of the crew," said Canadian North customer service manager, Stuart Wallace.

Wallace brought the caps to agencies and businesses, which helped out during the crew's two-day stay.

But, unfortunately, the demand exceeded the supply.

RCMP Sgt. Phil Johnson said he couldn't give a hat to everyone who lent a hand.

"We had a lot of people involved behind the scenes. When the hats came, there was a flood of people at my door to receive them."

Johnson hopes someone will order more hats.

"It's a nice keepsake for people," he said.

"Yellowknife is a long way from New York City, but it affected everybody."