FOX

Americans to Mark One Month After Attacks Thursday

Oct. 11 should be anything but routine.

Americans by the millions will take a break from the daily grind Thursday to reflect on the tremendous loss felt after the terror attacks on New York, Washington and southwestern Pennsylvania one month ago.

Moments of silence or candlelight vigils will take place in many communities.

"It's hard not to do something," said Chuck Ruoff, deputy mayor of Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J., where an evening vigil is planned.

"We're still in a semi-depression state. It will take a long time to get over this."

Houses of worship will hold special services, including extra hours for confession at Roman Catholic churches. Thousands of restaurants will donate a portion of Thursday's profits to aid families of the victims.

In Columbus, Ohio, police officers not handling calls will park their cruisers and simultaneously run their sirens and lights for one minute in honor of firefighters and police officers killed in New York. Church and school bells will ring in unison in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

At the urging of the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations, bagpipers across the United States, and as far away as New Zealand, will play in memory of the victims.

Bert Heyvaert, a piper from Belgium, said he would play at the American memorial in Ypres, site of a devastating battle in World War I.

"My respects to the [New York] rescue workers and all those who have not given up hope in their wounded city," he wrote in a message to the pipers' association. "I'll be proud to honor all of you."

A concert and rally to honor the attacks' victims and show support for the world's children will take place at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Ambassadors from dozens of countries have been invited to the concert, which is sponsored by charities and child-advocacy groups; more than 1,000 children are expected to participate.

Colleges and universities will mark the day with services at their chapels, and discussions with experts on issues raised by the attacks.

At the University of Washington, all classes will be suspended for what's being called a Day of Reflection. It will include lectures, workshops and performances.

Poetry readings and music are planned at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore as part of an event promoting tolerance toward Arabs and Muslims. "We want to help people bridge their divides," said Laurie Bezold, one of the organizers.

Catholic Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, Del., is helping churches in his diocese prepare for a day of prayer and remembrance.

"All of us, deep down inside, have that need to be a part of some kind of peacemaking effort," Saltarelli said Tuesday. "People need to feel at peace with God, their neighbors and themselves."

The National Restaurant Association said nearly 7,000 establishments will join in Thursday's Dine for America campaign, pledging to donate profits to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

"It gives us a way to put our money where our mouth is," said Jim DeSimone, a spokesman for Darden Restaurants, whose holdings include Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants.

At Marti's Place, a steak-and-seafood restaurant along the Kankakee River in Hebron, Ind., the staff is bracing for a busy evening.

"We're just wondering if we're going to have enough food for the Saturday and Sunday crowd," said owner Ron Klauer. "We might have to serve hot dogs and potato chips on those days."

Some establishments are earmarking donations to the Windows of Hope fund for the families of restaurant workers killed in the World Trade Center. Unlike New York police and firefighters, many restaurant workers had no employer-provided pensions or insurance.

In Sacramento, Calif., officials chose to hold observances Tuesday, marking four weeks since the attacks. Police vehicles and fire trucks from across California paraded through downtown to the state Capitol while a flag-waving crowd looked on.

"We are in a war and we are all sticking together," said Vinny Olson, a Vietnam veteran and state employee, as he watched the procession.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Answers

And the one-month anniversary might just be an excuse for the terrorists to pull something else, so please be alert tomorrow, y'all, especially around 0900+/- eastern.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

2:01 AM Central

I hear your concern about tomorrow. This has been really one long month!

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

BBC Thursday, 11 October, 2001, 10:35 GMT 11:35 UK US marks month of trauma

Victims of the Pentagon attack are still being identified

Americans will mark the month since the terror attacks on the US with nationwide tributes.

President George W Bush will make a speech at a memorial service at the Pentagon.

He is also asking schools across America to join him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the US flag.

Security will be tight in Washington for President Bush's visit when he will assure relatives of those killed that their loved ones will not be forgotten and there will be no let-up in the war against terrorism.

Thousands of people are expected at the memorial service outside the Pentagon, which was hit by a hijacked jetliner, killing 64 people on the plane and about 125 inside.

In a speech emphasising renewal, Mr Bush will tell listeners that construction of the Pentagon began precisely 60 years before the crash, on 11 September, 1941.

Turning point

In New York, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani hailed 11 October as a turning point.

The courage of New Yorkers, he said, was seeing them and their city through.

More than 5,000 people are believed to have died when the World Trade Center collapsed after being hit by two hijacked airliners.

In other tributes across the US:

A concert and rally will take place at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington Special services are being held at places of worship Candle-lit vigils and moments of silence are being observed Bagpipers are to play in memory of the victims Some universities and colleges are suspending classes for a day of remembrance Nearly 7,000 restaurants are joining a Dine for America campaign, donating profits to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

The month anniversary is also being marked around the world.

In Rome, Italian government officials will join US and other diplomats for a memorial mass at the St John in Lateran Basilica.

In Britain, more than 3,000 firefighters are to honour their US counterparts who died in the attack on the World Trade Center with a commemoration service at St Paul's Cathedral, London.

In contrast, about 200 religious anti-war protesters in Bangkok, Thailand, have used the anniversary to march on the US and British embassies and call for an end to military strikes against Afghanistan.

The BBC's Washington Correspondent Paul Reynolds says that a month on from the attacks, Mr Bush has surprised his critics, although not his supporters.

He has done this by responding to the shock of his fellow citizens with a common touch, by assembling an international coalition with skill and mounting a military campaign with care.

Recovery work goes on

His approval rating is about 90%.

Meanwhile, recovery teams are still working around the clock to clear wreckage from the site of the World Trade Center.

Although 200,000 tons of debris have been cleared, long and dangerous work still lies ahead.

Only 438 bodies have been recovered.

New Yorkers are already discussing what should replace the twin towers.

All agree there should be some form of memorial.

Some say they should rebuild - bigger and taller in defiance of those who attacked their city.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001