9-11 victims remembered across state

"I just wanted to be here," said Oshiro, who on Dec. 7, 1941, saw from his Honolulu home the smoke rising from Pearl Harbor and 60 years later saw America under attack again. "We are all suffering, too."

Oshiro was one of thousand of Californians who gathered for official ceremonies and impromptu memorials at government buildings, offices, parks, churches, synagogues and mosques around the state to mark the anniversary of four hijackings and attacks on the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"It happened thousands of miles away, but it hurt us as if we were there," Gov. Gray Davis said during a ceremony on the east steps of the state Capitol. "On this hallowed day, every place in America is ground zero."

Davis unveiled a sculpture made of steel from the twin towers, and planted three rosebushes in honor of the victims. Church bells chimed in the distance.

The anniversary was also marked by tightened security at airports, bridges and other public facilities. The Capitol grounds were swept by security officers before Davis spoke.

The police presence was increased by 20% at Los Angeles International Airport, where the number of travelers was relatively low during the morning and long lines of taxi cabs waited for the few passengers who emerged from terminals.

United Airlines, the biggest carrier at the airport, said travel was light throughout California and flights had been cut back in anticipation of the decline.

"A lot of people have chosen to do other things today," said Joe Hopkins, media manager for the airline. He declined to say how many flights had been trimmed or estimate the decline in passengers.

At San Francisco International Airport, Eve Nelson of Cherry Hill, N.J., said she was flying as a message to the terrorists.

"I'm doing it in spite of them. I could have stayed until tomorrow, but I wanted to fly today," she said while waiting for a flight to Eugene, Ore. "I think we need to say we will not be cowed by these criminals."

Hundreds gathered at California State University, Fresno, for a tree planting in memory of two former students who died in the attacks - Navy Lt. Cmdr. Vincent Tolbert, who died at the Pentagon, and Todd Beamer, who is believed to have helped lead passengers in thwarting hijackers of a plane that eventually crashed in Pennsylvania.

"My brother-in-law lived life by a motto, `Live life to its fullest. I'd rather burn out than fade away.' And that's what he did," Laurie Tolbert told the gathering.

Aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in San Diego Bay, sailors hoisted a jack, a U.S. flag emblazoned with the words "Don't Tread on Me," in a solemn ceremony repeated on every Navy ship around the world.

"Our message today is: You thought you could demoralize us; we've strengthened. You thought you could divide us; we stand together," said Capt. Kenneth Golden, commander of Amphibious Squadron One. "You thought we would give up and accede to your demands. No way. You're wrong."

Sailors read the names of the 125 military personnel and civilians who were killed when American Airlines flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon. A Navy band played "Amazing Grace" during the reading, then two buglers played taps.

"Your Navy will never, ever forget," said Vice Adm. Mike Bucchi, who commands the San Diegobased 3rd Fleet.

In San Francisco's Washington Square Park, a gathering spot for people who practice Chinese calisthenics known as tai chi, more than 3,000 flags flew, one for each of the dead in the four hijacked airliners, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Along with the Stars and Stripes, flags honoring victims from 14 other countries were displayed.

As clusters of elderly men and women moved in their silent dance, crowds of onlookers came with cameras to record a bit of history.

Word of the terrorist attacks reached California at first light last year. At daybreak Wednesday, churches, mosques and synagogues around the state, as well as city halls and fire stations, had special services.

"Three of the planes were bound for Los Angeles," Mayor James Hahn said during a ceremony at a park. "So many people were waiting here ... for loved ones that never arrived."

A procession that included fire engines, a military Humvee, police cruisers and rescue vehicles left from the park moments later, headed off for a tour of the city that would end at sunset at San Pedro park overlooking the Pacific.

Thousands gathered for an interfaith service at Los Angeles' new Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, where actress Anjelica Huston led a long list of speakers.

"Today ... we remember the thousands of good, loving, hardworking, women and men who did nothing more than decide one fateful day to go to their office, to kiss their children goodbye as they left that morning, to hug their spouse, to say one last `I love you' before departing," Huston said.

At the Islamic Center of Southern California, men and women in separate groups stood in rows with hands cupped toward the sky and bowed their heads in a pre-dawn service.

"We just want to send a message to America. What hurt the country hurt us too. We are a part of it," said Hoda Eltantawi, a hospital administrator who moved to California from Egypt 28 years ago.

At 5:46 a.m. PDT, precisely the moment the first airplane stuck the World Trade Center, Maher Hathout, a retired cardiologist who led the morning prayer service, condemned the attacks.

"That people ask, `What do you Muslims feel about that attack,' it is a question that we almost resent but we have to answer. ... Crime does not have a religion," Hathout said.

In a pre-dawn mist below the Golden Gate Bridge, about 100 people observed a moment of silence, punctuated by the sound of fog horns as ships moved through San Francisco Bay.

More than 200 firefighters and paramedics gathered in Santa Ana to renew their firefighter oath around a bronze statue depicting a firefighter holding a child. Firefighters in dress blues stood watch at the memorial through the day.

At San Francisco's PacBell Park, there was no ceremonial first pitch before the Giants lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead, a baseball was placed on the mound by John Beaven, who lost his father in the attacks. Families of eight local residents who lost their lives on Sept. 11 stood on the field.

A fireboat crew tossed wreaths of white carnations into McCovey Cove outside the waterfront ballpark. White doves were released as the crowd sang the national anthem.

At Los Angeles International Airport's Delta Air Lines terminal, two ground crew workers sang a spontaneous version of the "StarSpangled Banner." Dozens of passengers stopped to listen, then burst into applause.

Associated press writers Justin Pritchard in San Francisco, Seth Hettena in San Diego, Alexa H. Bluth in Sacramento, Kim Baca in Fresno, Chelsea Carter in Santa Ana and Sandra Marquez and Eugene Tong in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Uploaded September 12, 2002