The images seen in Mineola reflecting the worst attack on United States soil may not be as graphic as those the public has been bombarded with of the scene that defines destruction 30 miles away. However, images seen in the community of Mineola - flags displayed outside homes and on cars, flags at half mast, residents flocking to churches and parishes, the veil of sadness and despair that citizens wear on their faces - tell the tale of a tragedy of overwhelming proportion.

Last week seems so long ago when two planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers, causing both majestic buildings to collapse and bringing valiant rescue workers into action. In Mineola, residents have done their part to cope with the tragedy, whether they were close to the scene, donating money or supplies or simply saying a prayer for those who either perished or are missing.

It should come as no surprise that Mineola's volunteer organizations became involved in a team effort to cope with the tragedy. The Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps (MVAC) was activated Tuesday evening, responding with an ambulance to Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens. From there, the ambulance was directed to Chelsea Piers, where it remained from 7 p.m. until early Wednesday morning for stand-by coverage.

On Tuesday, MVAC also sent a fly car to Ground Zero, the scene of the tragedy. According to MVAC Chief Ed Rumme, the fly car assisted FDNY EMS in establishing a triage area at Pace University and then assisted in the rescue effort.

On Friday, the two vehicles were used again. The fly car was again dispatched with nine members to Ground Zero. The ambulance went to St. Vincent's Hospital to transport an FDNY firefighter who was injured to Winthrop-University Hospital.

MVAC's third assistant chief Joe Laino, who also works for Flushing Hospital as an EMS, was activated and directed to cover eastern Queens. Even in Queens, the smoke from the World Trade Center had pervaded the air. "It was all over the place," Laino said.

Laino echoed the sentiments of many who have seen the remnants of the disaster. "It's like a scene from a movie. I got close enough to it to see it. I kept waiting for the director to yell cut. It was surreal," he said.

Mineola Fire Department Chief Mike DeStefano said he was emotionally exhausted because of the situation. Last week, a friend of DeStefano's family was confirmed dead and the fire chief was waiting to hear about another two friends who are missing. "We're still waiting to hear from two more friends of ours. Our kids are in school together. We see each other; we hang out at the games together," he said. "I'm just mentally and physically drained."

But despite the personal tragedy many of the members may have been experiencing, the Mineola Fire Department also did its part to aid the operation, sending an engine with eight members to two different New York City firehouses in Queens to protect the district while the FDNY was at the scene of the disaster. The Mineola Fire Department also prepared all of its portable generators and pumps in the event of a blackout. The Mineola firehouses were also prepared to be emergency response centers. The main Mineola firehouse is also being used as a meeting place for the New York City District Attorney staff before staff members go into the city.

The Mineola Fire Department was also planning on sending an engine to Greenpoint, Brooklyn to man a fire station since that department's engine was destroyed at the scene.

At the prayer service on Thursday at Chaminade, some members of the Mineola Fire Department presented the United States' colors and stood at attention as a symbol of the community's pride.

Other Mineola organizations are also trying to assist in making life bearable. Carol Ann-Harrigan-Markert is the director of the Mineola Food Outreach Center, located at First Presbyterian Church. Harrigan-Markert said the center, which normally collects food and distributes to those in need, would give food and hygiene products to those families who have lost someone in the disaster. The center is open on Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. For more information, call 248-0632.

"We're constantly collecting food and hygiene products. The senior citizen groups are helping us tremendously as well as the Boy Scouts," Harrigan-Markert said. "I want to let people know in Mineola that if they are now missing someone who has been helping with an income for their family, we will definitely take them on as clients with food and hygiene products."

Mineola resident Joyce Gorycki experienced personal tragedy eight years ago when her husband was murdered on the Long Island Rail Road. Gorycki knows what people are going through and suggests those hurting from the recent events should go to their local parish and speak to someone as she did eight years ago when she sought comfort from Rev. Mursch of Lutheran Church of Our Savior.

"There's no answer. It's evil overtaking good," she said.

Gorycki suggests that people who have lost a loved one go to a bereavement group. "This is a death that never leaves you because it wasn't an accident and it wasn't sickness. This is hardest death to deal with," she said. "This reawakens what we [Gorycki and her daughter Karen] went through. We never wanted anyone else to go through this and that really hurts."

Gorycki said people could even contact her if they want to talk about what happened and would also want to be a part of a support group, if one should start up in this area.

At the Nassau County chapter of the American Red Cross on Willis Avenue in Mineola, tables are set up to take monetary donations and for those wishing to fill out applications to volunteer. In the back of the building, a caravan of trucks (two on Thursday and six on Friday) are getting ready to bring supplies such as food, drinks, T-shirts and underwear for the rescue workers at Ground Zero.

Nassau American Red Cross spokesman James Green said the amount of people who have offered money and supplies has been overwhelming. "Our phone system has been jammed," he said.

The American Red Cross said monetary donations are encouraged since the need for various supplies may be constantly changing. The Red Cross would then buy the supplies that are needed. As of Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., the Nassau chapter of the American Red Cross collected $25,000 just from people who have called 747-3500 to donate. According to Green, when taking into account those who have called 1-800-HELP-NOW and those who have dropped off monetary contributions, that number is expected to be double.

The Nassau County chapter of the American Red Cross has also been offering mental health counseling to anyone who needs it from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. each day.

On Friday, as a steady rain fell on Mineola, six Red Cross vans loaded with supplies got ready to embark on a journey to New York City. One of the drivers of the vans was 75-year resident of Mineola Harry Himpler.

Himpler seemed calm and focused on the job at hand - getting supplies into what has appeared to be a war zone. "I can imagine," he said of what he may find. "I was in the Navy from 1942 to 1946 so I know a little bit about what is going on," he said.

Maryann Slutsky of the American Red Cross also planned on going to Ground Zero on Friday. "I don't think that anyone can be totally prepared. I am aware of what's going on," she said.

Winthrop-University Hospital has also been instrumental in the effort to help those involved in the tragedy. On Thursday and Friday, the hospital held blood drives in which people waited hours to donate Type O blood.

Besides treating approximately 15 people who were affected by the tragedy, the hospital has been sending medical supplies in the Red Cross caravans as well as medical personnel including doctors, nurses and physicians assistants to Ground Zero.

Dr. William Scott, who heads Winthrop's heart center and is recognized as one of the top heart surgeons in New York State, has been to Ground Zero throughout the week. He said the scene depicted numerous firemen and police officers scrambling to get people out of the wreckage by lifting the debris, piece by piece. "Most of it was done by hand. There were hundreds and hundreds of people in lines, just one after the other, taking pieces and just passing it down the line," he said. "It was an awesome sight."

Dr. Scott described incredible devastation with rubble as far as the eyes could see. "There were body parts underneath these pieces of building. We didn't find any whole bodies. It was awful," he said. "The remarkable thing is the focus of all the people to try to something. There were doctors and nurses out there lifting debris, passing out water, taking care of cuts, bruises and broken bones. People were just dedicated to one thing - trying to unearth whoever was underneath the pile."