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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:11 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2003

Hawai'i remembers victims of attacks

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

The moment of silence competed with the sounds of life:
Senate Sergeant at Arms Ben Villaflor rings the Liberty Bell today at the State Capitol, sounding it four times to represent each of the four acts of terrorism against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Four loud rings of the State Capitol Liberty Bell that faded at 8:46 this morning into the din of traffic on Beretania Street.

Four clangs to remember each of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Four tugs by State Senate Sergeant at Arms Ben Villaflor, his boxer’s hands gripping a white braided rope, as 100 people watched.

The first clang was so loud, it caught some off guard.

The simple ceremony this morning marked the moment when the first hijacked airplane slammed into the World Trade Center in New York. It was one of several observances statewide as Hawai'i residents honored those who died on the second anniversary of the attacks.

Gov. Linda Lingle took to the airwaves for a 30-second remembrance on TV and radio stations. She asked the public to observe a moment of silence. Later, at a gathering of state educators and military officials, the governor paused again to mourn the victims.

On Waikiki Beach, beauty queens in the Mrs. America Pageant sent 51 white doves into the air at 9:11 a.m.

And at 11 a.m., about 800 students, faculty and administrators from Chaminade University and Saint Louis School gathered to pray for peace.

But no matter where people gathered, the memory of those horrific events challenged people to get on with life in a way that honored the dead.

"Eventually, throughout the day, each person will somehow remember what happened," said Senate President Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), before the bell-ringing ceremony at the Capitol.

"Unfortunately, I guess today is no different than any other day," he said. "Business goes on. But we must never forget what happened."

Before they went back to their offices, the Capitol crowd sang "American the Beautiful." As she sang, Susan Jaworowski’s clear voice seemed to float above them all.

"I think, for our generation, this is a new day that will live in infamy," she said afterward, her jaw quivering with emotion. "It is important to not only remember those who perished but to tell the survivors that they are not forgotten."

Across town at Hickam Air Force Base, Lingle told 150 people gathered for the Joint Education Venture Forum that she had felt a sense of anxiety in the days leading up to the anniversary.

"This is a very difficult day, really, for me," Lingle said. "I have to be candid with you. I’m sort of pushing through the day as many of you are because no matter how hard you try ... you probably shouldn’t really forget what happened on 9-11, but move on with our lives as President Bush advised us to, even in the days immediately following."

The gathering at Chaminade University and Saint Louis School campus began with uniformed cadets from the Saint Louis JROTC lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff, a low, long drum roll filling the silence.

The Rev. Ken Templin, director of the Chaminade University Campus Ministry, told the gathering that "the world longs for peace."

His was a moving prayer.

"Peace comes when we together make it happen," Templin said.

Students bowed their heads and wiped their eyes when Cathy Agor spoke. Hers was a grim acceptance of a new world order, where uncertainty was a fact of life.

"The world as we knew has changed," she said. "Violence has escalated and our passion for justice is being tested."

Advertiser staff writers Lynda Arakawa and Beverly Creamer contributed to this report.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.