ONLINE EDITION FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2001

News

In the midst of incomprehensible tragedy, the nation possesses an impenetrable unity. Hundreds upon hundreds of residents attended a candlelight vigil at the village gazebo Friday night after religious services were held throughout the community. According to reports, Garden City was one of the communities hardest hit, with a large amount of residents missing. More than 10 families have filed missing persons reports but religious figures say dozens more are also missing. Clergy from St. Joseph's Church, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, the Garden City Community Church, St. Ann's Church and more spoke to residents, offered comfort and joined them in prayer.

The Garden City High School choir, under the direction of Robert Ludwig, sang songs of freedom, including The National Anthem, America the Beautiful and Let There Be Peace on Earth. Many parishioners headed toward the gazebo by way of Hilton Avenue after religious services, all with the "light of freedom" leading their way. For those in attendance or even watching from nearby apartment windows or by car, the experience was quite overwhelming. So overwhelming one woman, who attended the vigil alone, collapsed nearly halfway through the ceremony. Strangers helped her regain consciousness until she was later taken to an ambulance.

John Emanuele, a 15-year village resident who arrived early and waited for his oldest daughter en route from St. Ann's Church, said a "wave of emotion" is going through the country. "It doesn't matter where I'm from because everyone around the globe feels what we're feeling right now."

As military fighter jets patrolled New York's air space, Msgr. John Gilmartin from St. Ann's spoke to the hundreds of devastated residents that flocked to the gazebo, urging them to "pray in the weeks and months to come that all our communities will be united."

Pastor William Meyer from the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection called on God to pray for this nation's leaders, giving them vision, passion and courage. "Almighty God we need you to help us stand," Rev. Lynn Sullivan from the Garden City Community Church said. "Redirect our anger and pain so we can stand together as a community."

Echoing those words, Father Joe Schlafer from St. Joseph's asked for God's help in bringing harmony to all people. "As your light shines tonight," he said, "the light of freedom will shine tomorrow."

A deep sense of shock and sadness pervaded the communities of Nassau County Sept. 11, in the wake of last week's terrorist strikes on America, which are being described by President Bush as "the most devastating terrorist attacks in the nation's history," and "an act of war."

Many residents of this New York City suburb still fear for the lives of friends and family members believed to have been inside the World Trade Center when the Twin Towers were destroyed by two hijacked passenger jets, a United Airlines flight and an American Airlines flight, that crashed into the buildings. An estimated 50,000 people worked in New York City's Twin Towers, certainly many of them from Nassau County, and residents are still trying to comprehend the magnitude of the casualties.

In addition to the employees at the World Trade Center, and the passengers in the hijacked jets, many of the estimated 400 New York City firefighters and police officers believed to be killed when the Twin Towers collapsed are from Long Island. Victims' families and friends, in a desperate attempt to locate their loved ones, have also flocked to the wreckage, posting pictures all over the city.

The destruction of the World Trade Center was among a coordinated series of attacks on America's greatest symbols beginning at approximately 8:45 a.m. Sept. 11; a commercial airliner also hit the Pentagon - America's center of military operations - in Washington D.C. last week. In addition to the crashes at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, a fourth jet, apparently diverted from an attempted attack on the White House, crashed in Somerset, PA. Close to 300 passengers and crew members were killed in the four commercial passenger jet crashes involved in the carefully calculated, multiple airline hijacking. A total of about 20 hijackers, armed with knives, reportedly disabled airline crew members and operated the jets as missiles in their suicidal missions. Indeed, Sept. 11 was a dark day in US history - in the history of the world - and the attack was an affront to the freedom that is the heart of America.

President Bush called the attacks acts of war, and said that the enemy will be conquered. There have been thousands of tips sent to the FBI as investigators search for the perpetrators. "Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil. The deliberate and deadly attacks that were carried out against our country were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war," the president said.

"This is an enemy that tries to hide, but it won't be able to hide forever. This is an enemy that thinks its harbors are safe, but its harbors won't be safe forever. Our people saw evil, the very worst of human nature. This nation's resolve is being tested but we'll show the world we'll pass this test."

The commander in chief said the government is open for business, but not business as usual, as the US military is on full guard. Based on US intelligence information, he said he believes the perpetrators are finished with a carefully executed attack, although he added, "We are operating on heightened security alert.

"We will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms," he assured. He vowed to rally the world against the shadowy enemy behind the attacks, and anyone who harbors that enemy.

Bush requested emergency funding from Congress to help recover victims, help the citizens of New York City and Washington D.C. respond to the tragedy, and to protect national security. "We are prepared to spend whatever it takes," he said.

Some believe Osama bin Laden, the militant fundamentalist financier harbored by the ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan, was behind the attacks. However, federal officials have indicated that the perpetrators are unknown, and that we are at war with an unknown enemy.

Emergency personnel from Nassau County have rushed to New York City to assist search and rescue operations at the World Trade Center, and those concerned for loved ones are also on the scene - seeking information and overwrought with worry and grief. The entire metropolitan area seems to have pulled together in the midst of this tragedy, and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Governor George Pataki and federal officials have expressed resolve in overcoming the attacks.

"We're not going to let these cowards scare us," Mayor Giuliani said. "We're going to rebuild. We're not only going to rebuild, we're going to come out of this stronger than we were before."

Governor Pataki said, "We will get through this. America will get through this. We will not be intimidated. We will not lose our freedom. We will continue to work with the White House, the mayor's office, and the appropriate state, local and federal emergency authorities to ensure the most coordinated and effective emergency response possible." US Navy ships are also on guard in New York City's harbors.

In a prepared statement released last Tuesday, Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta expressed sympathy to the victims' families. He said, "I have offered the assistance of Nassau County resources to the mayor and the authorities of New York City. In Nassau County, our Emergency Management Office is at Level 3, the highest level of county preparedness."

Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and Glen Cove Mayor Thomas Suozzi, the Democratic candidates for county executive in the primary election, also released a joint statement last week, saying, "Our prayers go out for the safety of those in the downtown Manhattan area and in Washington, D.C."

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, who was in Washington at the time of the attack, released a statement saying, "God Bless New York, God Bless America. During this time of tragedy in New York, Washington, America and the world, I join you in praying for the thousands of victims and their families. It is with heavy hearts that we turn our anger and energies into help for the victims and their families as they try to make sense of this act of war on our great country. We also need to say a word of thanks for all of our health care workers and emergency personnel who are working tirelessly.

"Congress is unified behind our president, and we must pray for him and his wisdom as he guides this country through the greatest tragedy ever to confront an American president since Pearl Harbor. I assure you all of the federal resources will be made available to deal with this tragedy. I am working with all of my colleagues from New York on emergency spending for victims and their families as they face futures forever changed.

"New York has seen many tragedies and we've come through each one stronger and united. This tragedy will be no different. I feel confident in the extraordinary leadership of Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani. Their tireless efforts to provide comfort and calm can never be matched. I thank them. I pledge to you, there will be no rest until we find answers for these acts of war. May God Bless New York. May God Bless America."

The Long Island Association (LIA) has set up a hotline for area businesses to donate products and services to victims. Matthew Crosson, LIA president, said many Long Island businesses have expressed a desire to help the victims in New York City. "We can do that in two ways, with humanitarian assistance as individuals and with business assistance to the many companies, large and small, that have been affected, " he said.

"It is important that the New York Metropolitan region's business community come together for mutual support to confront these difficult times," Crosson said. "If your company, as a business, has a product or service that you want to offer to the business victims of the terrorist attacks and you do not know how to do that, call the LIA at 631-493-3023 to make a donation. The LIA will work with state and city authorities to ensure that your donation is properly forwarded to an appropriate business victim."

As business chair of the Long Island Blood Services campaign, Crosson asks all Long Island businesses to allow their employees time off from work to donate blood at an approved donation center.

US Senator Kemp Hannon's office also joined the mass effort last week, organizing contact numbers in case the senator's constituents call and are in need of help trying to located loved ones or want to make any donations. Those who want to give blood to help save the lives of those seriously injured during this monstrous act of hate can call 1-800-692-5663 or 1-800-933-2566.

The American Red Cross released a statement saying they are "serving an instrumental role in this disaster response. To help victims, contributions can be made to the American Red Cross by mailing them to 195 Willis Avenue in Mineola, NY 11501 or by calling 747-3500, ext. 203. All checks should be made payable to the "American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund."

Residents also came out in droves last Friday and Saturday to donate much needed supplies for firefighters working tirelessly down at ground zero. According to Brian Ridgway, village clerk, five military trucks from the National Guard picked up supplies, like tooth brushes, dog food, water, sweat shirts, socks and more, last Saturday afternoon at St. Paul's.

"We had so many supplies, they couldn't take it all," Ridgway said. "The outpouring was unbelievable. We had so much water you probably could've filled up the Garden City Pool."

Andrea Morale contributed to this story.

At this time of national tragedy, the Cathedral family offers its prayers on behalf of those who died in the senseless criminal acts directed against the city, the capital and other areas throughout the country.

In remembrance of those who lost their lives, and in recognition of the humanitarian efforts of many volunteers and public servants, the cathedral held special services Thursday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 16. The Bishop of Long Island was on hand last Sunday, leading the special worship service and offering prayers for those who continue to suffer in the aftermath.

The cathedral clergy will be "on call," along with members of the Garden City clergy fellowship, to provide pastoral care and counseling to those requesting such services. Cathedral officials have been in touch with the Red Cross and will make its facilities available for blood donations at those times requested by the Red Cross and other relief agencies. The cathedral will also share news of any special requests by relief and humanitarian organizations and will respond to the best of its ability and invite the members of the community to participate as may be needed.

The Cathedral of the Incarnation will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for prayer and meditation; regular Sunday worship hours are 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.