'A mighty miracle has occurred'
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Amidst the fear, sorrow, pain and suffering of Sept. 11, 2001, a "mighty miracle has occurred," President Thomas S. Monson declared during a memorial observance held in Salt Lake City.
"Experienced was a fusion of faith — even a pattern of prayer — as Americans turned not to dial 911, but rather dropped to their knees and looked heavenward to God for help."
President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, was the main speaker during the one-year anniversary observance of those who died in the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Salt Lake County, the memorial service was held at Abravanel Hall at 9 a.m. (MDT) and was attended by leaders of various faiths, as well as leaders of local police departments and fire stations.
Offering brief remarks was Rabbi Benny Zippel, executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Utah. The invocation was offered by The Rev. France Davis of Calvary Baptist Church; giving the benediction was Nadeem Ahmed, chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake.
Also attending and sitting on the stage were Elder David B. Haight and Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve. Conducting and offering some remarks was Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman.
A tender moment during the service was the traditional "Last Call" for the fallen firefighters and police officers of Sept. 11, 2001. The "Last Call" was given over emergency dispatch radio, a silver bell was rung, and the audience stood at attention as a lone firefighter and lone deputy officer walked across the stage representing their fallen comrades.
In his remarks, President Monson spoke with his customary warmth and openness. He spoke of how, for many years, the code 911 has been a telephone number dialed in emergencies and even memorized by children. "Then came Sept. 11, 2001, and nine-eleven took on another meaning and has a universal and everlasting place in the annals of history and in the hearts of millions. As with Dec. 7, 1941, it too has become a day of infamy."
On a morning when men and women were going to work and commuters filled the freeways, "an insidious attack, planned and executed by evil minds, wreaked havoc in America. Indiscriminately, men, women, and children were slaughtered, including those who responded to the call to rescue. No dastardly deed has been so rapidly and graphically reported in our history."
President Monson then quoted from the strains of a "beloved anthem," which became "a united petition from the heart and from the soul: 'God bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her Through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam. God bless America — my home sweet home.' "
Continuing, President Monson quoted from U.S. President George W. Bush's State of the Union Address of Jan. 29, 2002: " 'The American people have responded magnificently, with courage and compassion, strength and resolve. . . . In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of responsibility could look like. We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self."
In speaking of the bravery of rescue workers who died at the World Trade Center — 10 percent of all fatalities there, President Monson related the heartwarming story of eighth-grader Chantyl Peterson of Henderson, Nev., who loves horseback riding and playing the flute. Quoting from an Associated Press article, President Monson related that 11 years ago, she was dying of aplastic anemia, a disease that stops the function of the bone marrow. The only possible cure was a transplant, but there was no match within her family.
" 'Fortunately for Chantyl, 37-year-old New York City firefighter Terry Farrell, who had signed up with the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, turned out to be a perfect match,' " President Monson read, adding that after the transplant, the little girl recovered quickly.
Chantyl learned her donor's name and they exchanged calls and letters, and formed a friendship. She even traveled to New York City to meet firefighter Farrell, the married father of two, in 1994. The then-6-year-old rode his fire truck and ate lunch with him and friends on the 87th floor of the World Trade Center. They met again in 1999.
" 'Then came Sept. 11, 2001. Hearing of the attacks, Chantyl asked her mother, "Is Terry in trouble? Does he need help?" In fact, Farrell had died, like so many other firefighters trying to save lives. In late October, his body was found in the rubble of the South Tower,' " President Monson quoted.
Young Chantyl attended Terry Farrell's funeral and even recited part of the closing prayer. Quoting the article, President Monson said, " 'A New York-based marrow donor program organized by a retired firefighter has been rechristened to include Farrell's name.' "
The article concludes: " ' I think he's an angel,' says Sheri [Chantyl's mother]. 'When he saved Chantyl's life, he saved a family.' "
President Monson also quoted from a New York Times article about how, in 1867, two years after a Confederate stronghold in South Carolina was devastated by fire at the close of the Civil War, a group of New York City firemen made a peace offering. They shipped a state-of-the-art hose carriage to Columbia, which sank in a shipwreck before delivery. The firemen simply raised $2,500 for another one.
The article states that Southerners were touched by the gesture and promised to return the favor if it were ever needed. That need came some 135 years later. Led by a brigade of schoolchildren, Columbia, S.C., raised $525,000 to buy a fire engine for New York.
"I close my remarks by relating a personal experience which touches my soul. I turn back the clock of time to 1965. Under assignment of the First Presidency, I visited the stakes and missions in the South Pacific. During my stay at Melbourne, Australia, I visited the great War Memorial which stands on an imposing setting in that beautiful city.
"In the center of the main hall, inscribed for all to see, was the message of the memorial. The skylight overhead permitted easy reading, and once per year, at the eleventh hour of a November day in that southern hemisphere, the sun shines directly upon the message and it fairly stands up and speaks: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'
"On this morning of a day of remembrance — 9/11" President Monson concluded, "we acknowledge with gratitude those heroes who climbed to rescue, and who succeeded in the attempt. Let us also etch in our memories the supreme sacrifice of those who laid down their lives, who perished on that day where 'uncommon valor was a common virtue.' "
The Choristers of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir School provided music, along with members of the Utah Symphony and Opera.
E-mail: julied@desnews.com
