From a distance, it could have been a muted 4th of July event. People gathered on the cool grass in front of the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. Middle-aged couples clustered in lawn chairs while kids clutched handfuls of flags. But in place of fireworks are a number of solemn moments, stirring speeches and appearances by the governor, mayor, archbishop, symphony and gospel choir.
The interfaith prayer service began at 7:30 a.m. and included speeches from leaders like Governor Missouri, Mayor Francis Slay and Archbishop Rigali. During the moment of silence an airplane whispered overhead.
A little girl dressed in red, white and blue sprinted then sauntered across the base of the hill, playing peek-a-boo with members of the crowd. Her mother, Bridget Yates, explained that her daughter, Isabella, usually goes to day care in a federal building downtown. “I just couldn’t do it today. I couldn’t put her through the security frenzy, so we stayed home.”
Volunteers from the Red Cross handed out flags and programs, including Heidi Wank. She became a regular volunteer with the Red Cross exactly one year ago, inspired by Sept. 11. She now responds with other volunteers to emergencies throughout the city.
A giant flag hung from the far-reaching ladders of two fire trucks parked in the street. A line of fire fighters stood between the trucks, chatting between speeches. Roger Meyer and his captain, Mario Montero, are members of the company in charge of responding to emergencies at Saint Louis University. This time last year Meyer was doing detail at the firehouse and washing ladders. With the symphony’s music floating down the hill, Montero recalled watching on TV as the second plane hit the World Trade Center. “One thing I remember was leaving the firehouse, and at that time we knew all planes were grounded. There was a plane flying really low, and we thought, it’s coming to our city now.”
When asked how his job had changed, Montero said, “I think we’re more aware, more vigilant…Everyone’s more aware that this could be their last call. Nobody wants to talk about dying.” Meyer added that things are basically the same. “We’ve always done that. Whenever a call comes in, for a building, a high rise…everybody goes up in there, just like they did.”
