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CNN Live At Daybreak

New York Grieves for Victims

Aired October 11, 2001 - 09:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN NEWS: It was one month ago today that Americans watched a horrifying scene unfold. Well, today at the site of the World Trade Center attack, a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

Some workers actually took a break from the very difficult recovery work to pause, remember and reflect. But as you might imagine, others kept going on with the recovery effort. So far searchers have recovered the bodies of 422 victims. More than 4,800 are still missing and presumed dead.

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says the rebuilding of the World Trade Center will be dedicated to those who died in the terrorist attacks. Prayers were offered up on behalf of the victims.

For more now on today's memorial service at the World Trade Center site, let's check in with CNN national correspondent Martin Savidge. He joins us live from ground zero.

I thought that was a very powerful ceremony; it was short but very poignant.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was, Paula. And one of the things that was interesting is as that memorial service was taking place, a light was playing very dramatically across ground zero.

It would fluctuate from going from very somber gray, almost obscured by the clouds of smoke still rising from the debris, to occasional brilliant shafts of sunlight that would just illuminate the entire scene as the recovery work went on.

It was a simple service. It was a relatively short service. It did have faith that was led by the chaplains representing the fire department, representing the police department. There was also a moment of silence. There was the playing of "Amazing Grace" by bagpipes and the reading, perhaps of one of the most famous Psalms, the 23rd Psalm.

One of those that spoke was New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. And as you mentioned, he dedicated the rebuilding of New York to the lives that were lost here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI, NEW YORK: In the name of all of those that we lost here, our heroes, the firefighters, the police officers, the emergency workers, the citizens who were going about their lives trying to pursue, in their way, the American Dream, all of whom are heroes: We remember them. We will always remember them. And to them, we will dedicate the rebuilding of New York, and making certain that we do not allow the terrorists in any way to affect our spirit.

They attempted to break our spirit. Instead, they've emboldened it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: The mayor has other duties he's going to conduct today, including taking around a member of the Saudi royal family. As we already know, Saudi Arabia a crucial part of the coalition, but having some reluctance.

It would be very interesting, Paula, to hear the words of the Saudi prince after he has been to ground zero. It would be even more interesting to hear as he reports back to the royal family in Saudi Arabia as to what he believes should be done next -- Paula.

ZAHN: Well, particularly at a time when Reuters is reporting this morning that Saudi Arabia has actually asked Prime Minister Tony Blair not to make his trip to Saudi Arabia, to further distance Saudi Arabia from the ongoing military action.

So there's a lot to keep an eye on today as we watch these very complicated diplomatic relationships.

Martin, thanks so much.

For the families and friends who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks, it has been a month of coping with grief, pain and loss.

CNN's Elizabeth Cohen is standing outside a fire station in midtown Manhattan with more on the victims' relatives.

I go by that fire station every day, and it seems that there is a steady stream of people.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, I'm here at engine 54, ladder four on 8th Avenue in Manhattan. This is one of the many firehouses in New York that lost workers in the World Trade Center explosion. Some 343 firefighters died, 15 here at this house alone.

You can take a look behind me. They have pictures of the men who were lost. They weren't just firefighters; they were also fathers, they were husbands, they were boyfriends. And they put these pictures up here to memorialize them. You'll also see that there are flowers; people from all over the world have come here and left these flowers here. They know that this house lost so, so many people.

There are also letters, again, from all over the world. Here's one written in Hebrew. It says at the bottom, "Or Ha-Ner (ph), Israel," the Israeli flag and the American flag, we're here for you. There's another one up here that I think is so sweet. It's from a child in Utah. It says: "I live in Utah, we hope your city is OK. You are so cool." And here is one from a third grader named Ethan (ph)" "Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for putting your life in danger to save others."

These memorials are all over this wall and are all around the corner.

You know, it's been interesting. I was with these families a month ago. I talked to them now. They're all beginning to cope, all beginning the process of taking their lives back -- Paula.

ZAHN: Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much.

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