THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 7A
Anniversary observances differ statewide
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — From waving flags to donning ribbons on lapels to patriotic duds, Kansans found their own ways to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attacks yesterday.
At the noon Mass at Assumption Catholic Church across from the Statehouse, worshippers were reminded to pray not just for the victims.
"Pray for the heartless who do not value human life," said the Rev. Paul Bebedu.
He added that the attacks proved that "evil is real. But evil cannot overcome good.
We cannot lose hope because our God is much higher than evil."
Security was tight at the State house, where all but one entrance remained locked to the public.
Employees and visitors filed through the east doors and past a
security checkpoint staffed by Capitol Police—a precaution put in place in the hours after the attacks.
The nation was put on "code orange" alert Tuesday after officials said there was evidence to suggest more attacks on U.S. interests were possible.
Maj. Gen. Greg Gardner, the state's adjutant general and director of homeland security, said Tuesday that Kansas was following the national warnings and alerts. He said National Guard units had also been taken to a second level of precaution but that it appeared most of the focus was on national and international levels.
"The terrorists' objective is to take away our freedom,"Gardner said. "So if we live, work and enjoy our normal lives, we win."
The day's events included a flyover at 8:43 a.m. by a KC-135 flown by the 190th Air Refueling
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Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard. The tanker's engines briefly drowned out workers' staccato pounding on the new parking garage north of the State house.
Many state employees watched the gray jet fly west over Topeka before they moved on with the day's work.
The Topeka Fire Department was marking the occasion with an event from 8:45 a.m. until 9:28 a.m. — the duration of the four attacks by aircraft in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania
At Topeka's Gage Park Amphitheater, about 500 people
gathered as the United Way celebrated its Day of Caring. About 1,000 volunteers were expected to offer their services around the city.
Calista and Bart Moon of North Carolina were visiting their daughter in Topeka and were glad they attended the ceremony.
"It was nice to be part of a community of Americans today," Calista Moon said.
Gov. Bill Graves proclaimed yesterday as "Remembrance of Sept. 11 Day."
"It's important to show, one year later, that Americans remain united and committed in our efforts against acts of terrorism," Graves said.
Graves said.
At Chapman, residents and students spent the day standing on an overpass above Interstate 70, the main east-west roadway through the state.
The size varied throughout the day, but around noon there were
about 50 people wavings small and large flags to the passing motorists below. Over each side of the overpass was a banner reading: "God Bless America." Truckers blasted their horns and cars flashed their lights.
cars hashed their finger Gilda Marshall organized the flag-waving and, since November, there have been people on the overpass on the 11th of each month.
"It started out as our way to say 'thank you' to the brave people of New York," she said. "Now it's support of our troops out there protecting us."
In Lawrence, the Campanile bell tower at the University of Kansas rang at 7:48 a.m. to note the local time when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
A candlelight vigil was scheduled for yesterday evening, similar to the vigil held days after the
attacks.
At Fort Hays State University, custodial department supervisor J.R. Grabbe was one of about 200 people from the university and the Hays community who attended a ceremony on campus that included a moment of silence.
Grabbe said he felt a twinge of anxiety as he raised the flag at the school earlier in the morning.
"I'm still holding my breath." Grabbe said. "You just wonder when and where this is going to happen again."
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