Candles and prayers
Jose Paul Corona
Early Wednesday morning, as some Huntington Beach residents slept
and others readied themselves for another day at work, a small group
of people gathered at St. Wilfrids of York Episcopal Church on Chapel
Lane to honor the heroes and victims of last year’s terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
A half-dozen people occupied the church sanctuary shortly before 7
a.m., there to reflect on the events that happened a year ago.
Candles were lit, heads were bowed and tears could be seen forming in
the eyes of those at the church.
The early morning service, which began at 5:45 a.m., was just one
of many held in remembrance of those lost to the terrorist attacks.
Karen Weaver stopped at St. Wilfrids before she went to work.
“I just wanted to pay my respects,” she said when discussing those
that were killed during the attacks.
Weaver said she could not help but think that she easily could
have been one of the many people that died.
“I might be on a plane that’s hijacked,” she said. “I work in a
[tall] building.”
Those thoughts got to her as she discussed her sorrow for the
family members of those that died.
But even though the possibility of a terrorist attack still
exists, she’ll still continue to fly.
“I want to live my life for those people [that died],” she said.
Parishioner Pam Dorff, who arrived at St. Wilfrids at 5:45 a.m. to
take part in the open door service, had New York City residents on
her mind as she prayed and reflected.
“I’m praying for peace and for the people who still live there,”
she said.
Dorff’s husband is a New York native who works for a bond company.
If they had lived in the city, he probably would have worked in the
World Trade Center, she said.
“It really hits home for me,” Dorff said pensively. “It could have
been me, it could have been us.”
Like many others, Dorff woke up on Sept. 11 and turned on the
television to see the horrifying footage of the terrorist attacks.
She was transfixed and she “sobbed heavily” that morning, she said.
“Talk about not knowing where the day was going to go,” Dorff said
with a sigh.
Betsy Crimi could only think about all of the “people affected” by
the attacks, she said.
“The people that died have been on my heart and soul,” she said.
She also prayed for world leaders to “make good decisions” for her
family and for her children, she said.
“I want it to be a world that they can raise children in,” she
said.
By attending the open service, Crimi said she feels that she was
able to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the attack.
“I see today as a way to honor our country,” she said. “I see
tomorrow as a brand new day. A lot of people will be able to begin
[anew] tomorrow, to cope and go on with their lives.”
The Rev. Amy Schwend read from the New York Times “Portraits of
Grief” series that chronicled those who died during the attacks.
“I could only do three or four before I started crying,” she said.
One obituary in particular affected her. It was about a young man
in the Episcopalian ministry that died, she said.
As Sept. 11 approached, a number of her parishioners asked about
the service and many of them have sought counseling, she added.
“This is stirring up a lot of pain for people,” she said.
The service at St. Wilfrids was just one of several events held
Wednesday to commemorate those that perished.
Students at Dwyer Middle School held a memorial assembly on the
school’s front lawn, where the flag flew half-staff. The “It Starts
With U.S.” program included the school choir singing patriotic songs
and had students assembling an American flag by using red, white and
blue 4 x 5 pieces of paper.
The Interfaith Council held a prayer session at noon in Central
Park along with storytelling by fireman and a police officer who
provided assistance during the attacks.
Students at Golden West College held a 2 1/2 hour candlelight
vigil at the school’s central quad Wednesday night. They dedicated a
tree and a plaque in honor of the victims of the attacks and listened
to a performance by the College Symphonic Band.
The names of all of the victims of the terrorist attacks were also
displayed on the school’s marquee along Edinger Avenue. The names
scrolled on the marquee throughout the day.
Also Wednesday night, Christ Presbyterian Church held a special
service to honor the heroes of the terrorist attacks and the
Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science held an interfaith
service of peace and hope. Calvary Baptist Church also held a prayer
vigil along with a multimedia presentation.
By the end of the day, many Surf City residents had sought comfort
in houses of worship.
Dorff said she couldn’t imagine being at another place on that
day.
“This is my home, this is my church,” she said matter-of-factly.
“This is where I feel solace, it’s my comfort.”
* JOSE PAUL CORONA covers City Hall and education. He can be
reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at jose.corona@latimes.com.
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