WITH VIDEO
A parade of emergency vehicles with lights flashing, a quiet flag-raising, poignant reflections from 11-year-olds moved by the tragedy – this is how coastal North County remembered Sept. 11 yesterday.
More than a dozen cars, vans and trucks of the California Highway Patrol, local police and fire departments, lifeguards and the U.S. Postal Service rolled slowly along The Strand in front of Oceanside's beachfront amphitheater as the 40-member MiraCosta College Community Chorale sang "America the Beautiful."
About 800 people attended the hourlong observance, dubbed "In Their Honor" to show appreciation for the nation's and the community's police officers and firefighters.
In the audience, Jean Korbacher clutched a folded American flag, which she later presented, on loan, to Oceanside City Manager Steve Jepsen. It had flown over the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 1976, a quarter-century before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
As Jepsen and Korbacher watched the flag being raised at the Oceanside Civic Center a few blocks away – then lowered to half-staff like all the other flags in the city – the bells of St. Mary's Church nearby rang out, bringing Korbacher almost to tears. Her late ex-husband, Ralph Korbacher, served with the city's Police Department for 30 years.
At schools along the coastal area, students wrote letters of appreciation to local firefighters and police officers, composed essays about patriotism and how the terrorist attacks changed their lives, and invited military personnel and rescue workers on campus to share moments of silence.
Capri Elementary School in Encinitas held a patriotic assembly. Children poured out of their classes dressed in red, white and blue, and members of the Marine Corps Color Guard marched onto the quad.
Tanya Howell, 10, sang "Wind Beneath My Wings." Principal Emily Andrade talked about what it means to be a hero. And the children reflected on what transpired a year ago.
"Sometimes I just feel so guilty that I'm still alive when all those people died, people who didn't know they were going to die," said Christine Mathers, 11.
Speakers at the amphitheater stressed that they wanted to honor the nation's heroes rather than mourn its dead. They also wondered aloud why the tragedy had to happen at all.
"It's difficult to understand the hatred in the hearts of those who committed such a horrendous act," the Rev. Hal Weeks said of the terrorists as he gave the invocation.
Weeks' words were interspersed with songs from the chorale, among them the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and short speeches by police Capt. Steve Scarano, fire Chief Robert Osby and fire Capt. Darryl Hebert, who volunteered at ground zero in New York after the devastation. Also speaking was local attorney Kenneth Gosselin, representing the San Diego Blood Bank, who thanked those who donated in the tragedy's wake.
Hebert spoke of a touching letter he received from a 7-year-old donating his money from the tooth fairy because "the families of firefighters need it more."
The biggest ovation was reserved for Marine Maj. Gen. William Bowden, commanding officer of Camp Pendleton.
"There has not been one day in all 365 days of this past year when I have not been reminded of Sept. 11, 2001," Bowden said. "Something has happened each day to remind me that things are different and there's a challenge out there.
"A year ago, we the American people looked in the eye of despicable evil. We have not blinked."
Osby said terrorists thought they "would bring America to its knees," but instead "brought it to its feet."
Local resident Brian Graham organized the amphitheater program. Students and educators took part in the observances at local schools.
At Capri Elementary, the children recalled how different the nation was during the emotional aftermath of the attacks.
"I remember looking at people, people I didn't even know, and realizing for the first time they were thinking the same thing that I was thinking about the people who died," said Billy Winslow, 11.
"And I remember that everybody acted differently that day, acted better," said Matthew Golman, 11. "Even the mean kids at school were nice."
Some talked about how the nation has been forever changed.
"I've only been alive for 11 years, but this is the most patriotic I've seen the country," Billy said.
Andrade, the principal, said she opted for a celebration of patriotism rather than a day of mourning because of the youth of her students.
At Santa Margarita Elementary at Camp Pendleton, children rallied around a giant homemade flag, and Principal Frank Gomez said a few words about the day's importance.
At Guajome Park Academy in Vista, students wallpapered their campus with more than 100 feet of banners recording the names of the victims. The signs included pledges by each of the 777 sixth-through 12th-graders in honor of those who died – resolutions such as "I promise to smile more often," "I will take care of others in pain" and "I will be more friendly to people I don't know."
The project was initiated by the students.
Andrew Cerda, 16, said they reflect lifetime goals.
"We were sitting around thinking, 'OK, it's Sept. 11 and we have all these memories, but we want to do something,' " he said.
Andrew said his goal was to get to know people instead of judging them too quickly.
Lola Sherman: (760) 476-8241; lola.sherman@uniontrib.com
Parmet: (760) 476-8238; sherry.parmet@uniontrib.com
