The glow of candlelight - and hope - filled the lawn at Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater in Eisenhower Park in Salisbury/East Meadow on Saturday, Sept. 25, as a large crowd of residents participated in a vigil for the victims of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

More than 25,000 people attended the event, which was organized by local residents Bill and Jane Meyers, with the cooperation and assistance of the Nassau County Department of Parks and Recreation.

"As we mourn our loved ones, tend to the injured, and as we look to an uncertain future," said Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta, who opened the ceremony, "we remember the victims and their families. They are our friends, our neighbors." As he led the ceremony, the leader of our local government echoed the words of the chief executive of our nation, George Bush, in the presidential address delivered just two nights earlier. Gulotta reminded residents of the president's vow to rout out and punish the terrorists, expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, and commended the outstanding unity shown by the people of Nassau County. "We are Americans first, and we are united as a community," Gulotta said, as attendees cheered and waved the American flag.

Said President Bush Thursday night, "My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our union, and it is strong." He described the unity of our nation as seen in "the courage passengers who rushed terrorists to save others on the ground," "the endurance of rescue workers working past exhaustion," "the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers in English, Hebrew and Arabic."

In Westbury and Carle Place, that spirit of unity unfolded in the American flags that have blanketed local business districts and neighborhoods, in the local firefighters who have volunteered at the scene, and in an outpouring of prayer. It was also seen in collections for the rescue workers at Drexel and Powell's Lane elementary schools, and letters written to the firefighters by Rushmore Elementary students.

The president's speech not only commended citizens' heroism and patriotism, but also urged resolve in the war that is now on against the terrorists, "Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution," the Commander in Chief proclaimed. "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done."

Gulotta, during the vigil ceremony, extolled the heroism of Nassau County's finest and bravest in the rescue efforts. He told the inspiring story of one Nassau County police officer who worked 12 hours straight to successfully rescue a Port Authority police officer who had fallen 30 floors. That Port Authority police officer, he said, is now recovering in an area hospital. Nassau County dispatched more than 400 police officers to the scene of the tragedy, and many other off-duty officers also rushed to the scene on their own accord. Many members of the volunteer fire departments around the county also rushed to assist in the relief efforts. Hundreds of police officers and firefighters have worked tirelessly in their relentless mission to rescue and recover victims, among them hundreds of their fallen brethren.

The county executive expressed pride in the response of the entire local community to the tragedies - those who gave blood, those who donated food, clothing and money to the victims and rescue workers, and those who encouraged the rescue workers through their cheers, prayers, and patriotic displays of the American flag.

"We light our candles to demonstrate our unity and our strength of spirit," Gulotta said. "What those terrorists accomplished was not to weaken us, but to unite us. And we will not break our resolve."

Immediately following the attacks, some innocent Muslims and Arabs, as well as innocent members of ethnic groups resembling them, were reportedly the victims of scattered incidents of discrimination and retaliation in America. President Bush warned against this in his speech Thursday night. "The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends. It is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is the radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them," the president said. On Saturday night Indian Sikh-Americans came out to the vigil in large numbers to promote understanding about their people, and to express their grief over the terrorist attacks, and unity with all Americans. "We share in the grief of all Americans," said T.J. Binder of the Sikh Americans, noting that more than 250 Sikhs and Indian Americans were killed in the September 11th attacks. He added that the Sikh churches are open to all who are in need of food, comfort or other assistance. Saying that the terrorists may have broken the steel of buildings, but that the steel of our resolve is even stronger, he added, "Together, we shall overcome. God bless America."

Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne, who represents Westbury's Salisbury section, as well as Levittown and East Meadow, urged residents to continue praying for not only the victims, their families, and the rescue workers, but also the members of America's Armed Forces who are being sent to fight in the war against the terrorists that is now under way. "Remember those who are going into harm's way," said Dunne. "Let's keep them in our prayers. God bless America."