It has been over a month since the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and if anything positive has come out of what has been a painful time in America's history, it is that citizens have united in a quest for peace and hope.

On the evening of Oct. 11, on the one-month anniversary of the attack on America, the Mineola student body showed its spirit and patriotism by organizing a candlelight march from Mineola Middle School to Mineola High School.

Over the past month, citizens have displayed a full spectrum of emotions, ranging from sadness and fear to pride and hope and while residents may still be coping with the loss of friends and family members, the youth of America has been called into action. The students of the Mineola School District have gladly taken the baton, proving that they know the way to get through the tragedy is by coming together as a nation.

While school administrators, board members and parents gladly took part in the candlelight march from one school to the other, they clearly made it known that the ceremony was totally orchestrated by the student body.

After gathering at the Mineola Middle School, hundreds of participants marched with candles in hand as night descended upon Mineola. Once in the high school cafeteria, a ceremony was conducted with the Star Spangled Banner sung by Kristen Loesch and God Bless America sung by the chorus. Later, the high school band and a combined high school and middle school band performed.

The students had set up a microphone for anyone who wanted to speak to do so. Teresa Richards, president of the Mineola School District Teacher's Association, thanked the students for arranging the vigil. "These are the moments that make everything different than before," Richards said, alluding to a month ago when everyone's life changed forever.

Although the images of what took place on Sept. 11 may be etched in everyone's minds, the will to go on and hope for a better future will be carried by the youth of America.

"I think all of us are scared about what's ahead. But I'm more assured than scared," said Mineola High School Principal Dr. Michael Nagler. "There are good people in this world and there are good kids in this school and I have faith they will lead us to a better future."

On Thursday, Mineola students showed that the way to cope through these difficult times is by sticking together and looking out for each other. The two students most responsible for the candlelight march - seniors Stefanie Fabrico and Michael Aguilo - have led the Mineola student body in not only coping with the tragedy, but by exemplifying the American spirit that has stood strong during the last month.

The students credited all aspects of the school community and especially their principal, Dr. Nagler, for organizing an after school meeting during which ideas were discussed about how students could express what they were feeling. After many ideas were discussed, the students came up with the candlelight march since it could include all schools in the district, from elementary through high school. "It was just basically everyone really coming together," said Fabrico. "It was great to see because everyone wanted to do something."

The candlelight march and ceremony was conducted in a manner that displayed patriotism and made apparent the notion that the youths of America are fully aware of their role as a major part of the glue that binds the country together. "Right now I couldn't be more proud to be an American, a New Yorker and from Mineola High School. I just think that everything has been so positive and we're lucky to have the people we have here helping us out," said Fabrico.

"This past month has definitely shown to me what true American patriotism can actually do to somebody. Before this, I really just did not have much faith in the American people to be so patriotic and something of this magnitude just brought everybody together and it just amazed me beyond belief. I was completely shocked to see everybody united in such a way that made people so strong through all of this," Aguilo said.

Perhaps most important in dealing with the tragedy is providing an opportunity for people to speak about it. It is often said that time heals all wounds. Yet, in the past month, Americans have seen that their wounds are deep and while the fear, shock and despair many felt on Sept. 11 still lingers, some of it has been replaced by faith. "I still feel that fear tonight, but I believe more strongly that we're going to succeed in what we're setting out to do," Aguilo said. "We need to do this to not only reinforce our standing in the world, but to reinforce the good in people so people don't lose faith in humanity as a whole."

Fabrico recalled studying for a test in the high school library a month ago on what appeared to be a typical Tuesday morning in late summer. But televisions in school tuned to the events signaled that Sept. 11 was anything but typical. When she reached her next class, ironically a New York City class, she had to walk out because, like many Americans, she was upset.

In many ways the crumbling of the majestic twin towers represented the crumbling of the idea that America cannot be hurt. "People say about teenagers that they feel nothing can happen to them, but I think, as Americans, we kind of realized that maybe we all thought that way," said Fabrico. "It makes you realize what we have to start doing. I think it's become more disbelief and sadness and anger so we're trying to do something and be proactive."

"I think it showed us that we have to keep united. The reason we are called the United States of America because we originally were united and we have to keep it that way," Aguilo said.

While students and fellow Americans may have entered into another age of uncertainty, history has showed that America has persevered and Mineola students are helping to set an example that through faith and togetherness, history will repeat itself.