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.