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CNN Live Sunday

Yankee Stadium Interfaith Service Honored Victims

Aired September 23, 2001 - 18:47   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: In New York City, baseball's field of dreams became a field of hope, and a house of prayer on Sunday, as thousands gathered in Yankee Stadium for an interfaith service honoring the victims. It was called "A Prayer for America."

CNN's Gary Tuchman has details of the service and he joins us not -- now.

Hi, Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Donna. It's a place where many celebrations have taken place. Yankee Stadium is the home of the team that has won 26 World Series Championships, so there have been a lot of happy times, there, and a lot of celebrations. But that's also why this was quite an appropriate place for this service. Because while terribly sad, it was also a celebration of each and every victim.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TUCHMAN (voice-over): The sadness was mixed with inspiration.

UNIDENTIFIED MINISTER: The way to conquer the enemies of life is to survive and celebrate life with a new sense of purpose. Our greatest enemy is fear. Let us take the Lord at His word. "Be not afraid. I am with you always."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's only one God. God bless America. God bless this planet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May all of us forever understand that what the victims want more than anything else is that the survivors should continue to live for what they died for. A place where government by the people, for the people and of the people will not perish from this earth.

TUCHMAN: A thread throughout this service, that all the victims died heroes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God bless them. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.

(SINGING "GOD BLESS THE USA")

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TUCHMAN: New York City is a very different place than it was 12 days ago. Twelve days ago, you look behind me, we saw a breathtaking view of the World Trade Center towers. Now we still see the smoke. You walk around this city and all over on walls, on telephone booths, you see posters with pictures of the missing people. But what we also see in this city right now is resolve and patriotism. For those of us not old enough to remember World War II, that degree of resolve and patriotism is something we've never seen before. Donna, back to you.

KELLEY: Gary, last week people were talking about how a lot of folks in New York, Washington and around the country are depressed, they're having trouble sleeping, an concentrating. Even where you are, have you had a chance to talk to folks? Do you notice the change? Are they going for help? Are they making improvements in their health?

TUCHMAN: Over the last 12 days, Donna, I've talked more than I've probably any -- ever talked in my life to people. We're talking to everybody. And no matter where you go in this city, whether it's to a restaurant, whether it's just walking down the street, whether it's to a party, this is all people talk about. People are having a very difficult time with it. Many activities now are normal, but life really isn't normal just yet.

KELLEY: Gary Tuchman in New York. Thanks very much, and we'll talk to you again.

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