Games become memorial services as America honors Sept. 11 heroes
Associated Press
New York Mets players, from left, Joe McEwing, John Valentin and Mike Piazza pay their respects to those lost during the terrorist attacks.
By Steve Wilstein
Associated Press
NEW YORK — They came for the games and they came for each other, fans and ballplayers from New York to San Francisco, Americans standing together through stirring ceremonies to remember victims, honor heroes and make a statement about the national spirit.
Associated Press
Yankee Stadium, the scene of many emotional moments in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, felt like a giant cathedral on the anniversary last night. Many fans held hands or wrapped their arms around each other and some shed tears, as Yankees manager Joe Torre did, when saxophonist Branford Marsalis played taps.
Members of New York City's police, fire and emergency units carry a flag recovered from Ground Zero during pre-game ceremonies at Yankee Stadium.
"We were tough and united right away after the attacks a year ago, and this is a night when everyone can show how tough and united we still are," Torre said. "We don't need to relive what happened, but we need to remember. I went through a range of emotions, from scared to mad to proud of how the city and country was dealing with it."
American flags flew at half-staff in every ballpark. Songs such as "Imagine," "Let it Be" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" played during batting practice instead of the usual bubblegum pop music.
There was a moment of silence at 9:11 p.m. local time at all night games, with a videotape in memory of those who died in the attacks.
"We're here to play baseball, we're here to entertain and we're here to hopefully help people heal," San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker said.
