Anyone, of any age, who attended Remembrance Day at the Mineola Memorial on September 11, 2003 at 4 p.m. will always remember where he or she was at that time.

Hundreds of people sat and hundreds more stood behind them fanned out in a semicircle in front of the Memorial creating a level ground amphitheater that stretched back around tree trunks, across walkways, and into the swings and slides.

Arrayed behind the Memorial in their crimson red, trimmed with white, marching uniforms, stood 140 students from the Mineola High School Band, led by Mr. Watson. Perched on the library's side balcony were 20 students and a keyboard from Chaminade High School's choir. Standing ready beneath the balcony was Tom Enright their bagpiper and Michael Patton, their drummer.

From posting of colors to retiring them, the M.C., Jack Martins (Mayor of Mineola) and his staff, braided meaningful presentations of clergy, political speakers, singers and musicians with demonstrations of reverence and honors, into one hour of spirit-fed American fellowship.

Marching a slow cadence out from under the balcony the drummer tapped the beat, the bagpiper blew the notes to Land That I Love. It was like playing to a hushed audience at a concert. People's hearts provided the words.

Father Bowman gave an opening invocation.

After paying tribute to many dignitaries in attendance, including County Exec Suozzi, Mayor Martins introduced State Senator Balboni, mentioning that he is chairman for Homeland Security. The Senator spoke and then handed the mike to Governor Pataki.

Their messages, perseverance and freedom respectively, were worthy of their leadership to our country's mission.

It was easy not only to hear but also to feel the powerful pride in the forceful music of The Mineola High School Band moving the crowd into singing our Star Spangled Banner.

Senator Schumer spoke next with words of sorrow and honor for the victims, empathy for their loved ones, high esteem for those who responded to help, and words of woe to those who committed that "dastardly act."

Our state's top dignitaries jointly laid three wreaths for the deceased. Each wreath brought a somber silent mood, but between each one the moods changed and flowed from sorrow to a blessing, like in the Psalms.

After the first, without any introduction, 14-year-old Padraic Phelan, representing Mineola's Jr. Fire Department sang us back to a blessing. He stood up singing out a cappella, God Bless America.

Playing of taps softly trailed off, following the second wreath, when a soft-playing keyboard from the balcony picked up the music mood. It grew louder as 20 voices heartily believing in what they sang joined it with Proud to be an American.

After the third wreath was laid, Mayor Martins prepared for a candle light vigil by gathering our state's top officials at the foot of the memorial:

Governor Pataki, Senator Schumer, Senator Balboni, County Exec Suozzi, plus Fire Chief Strauss (he has been decorated with the Medal of Honor as a New York City policeman for his work at Ground Zero).

Each person held in hand a six-inch by one-inch unlit white candle with a two-inch white queen's collar on it. Mayor Martins said, "...from one flame we will unite again this day in symbolism... representing all those who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11...."

Representing victims, the Owens family lit a first flame on Governor Pataki's candle, from that he lit others, and they lit others. Flames flickered and grew in number until everyone cupped one hand over their flame listening all the while to 20 voices and a keyboard presenting This is My Country.

After Martins dedicated a minute of silence for the victims, Rabbi Pearl closed by blowing a score of notes on a ram's horn symbolizing people's breaking-up and becoming whole. "A fulfillment of the great vision...the end is whole again," he said.

Richard Keegan