They could scarcely hear the singers on stage amid the chilly rain at Franklin Covey Field late Wednesday, so Chelcey Maughan, 13, and Samuel Hawthorn, 10, made their own music.
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Utah rememberances photo gallery
"God Bless America," brother and sister sang.
Rain seemed the right weather for the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. It felt like tears — and like the relief the country needed.
The storm that had gathered all afternoon didn't deter the few hundred who walked from the City-County Building to the ballpark Wednesday evening.
Bagpiping filled the ballpark as the procession arrived. Then, as the "Concert for Freedom" began, orchestral music replaced the rain. As the Utah Symphony played Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," a blond teenager put her head on a friend's shoulder. Shane Hawthorn, a Gold Cross Ambulance medic, and his wife, Idamae, a schoolteacher, looked across the ballpark.
"I've never seen the nation come together like we have in the past year," Idamae Hawthorn, 37, said. The pain of Sept. 11 "has brought people closer together."
Utahns observed the anniversary in many ways Wednesday.
Prayer and patriotism were combined at a noontime remembrance service at Temple Square. Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd at the Tabernacle, President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the terrorist attacks reawakened Americans' appreciation of the their country's freedoms and "endless" bounties.
The Tabernacle Choir sang traditional hymns as well as "America the Beautiful."
President Faust said Sept. 11's greatest tragedy was the loss of human life. "The death of even one person among our citizenry is incalculable. As a wise teacher tells us, 'One human life is as precious as a million lives, for each is infinite in value.' "
"These ignoble acts of terrorism reawakened in all of us an appreciation for our blessed land. Out of this disaster have come hundreds of stories of courageous acts of unselfishness and heroism," President Faust said.
He described Americans as "among the most favored of any of God's children to live on this Earth," but reminded his audience that they have a responsibility to be "participants, not merely bystanders in the processes of democracy to 'preserve us as a nation'."
"God Almighty established this land," he said, adding that "In God We Trust" must not only be stamped on the nation's coins but "must be stamped on our hearts and minds."
Earlier in the day at Abravanel Hall, President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, said Sept. 11, like Dec. 7, the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed, has become "a day of infamy."
He said the insidious attack was planned and executed by evil minds and wreaked havoc in America.
"Amidst the fear, the sorrow, the pain and the suffering, a mighty miracle occurred. Experienced was a fusion of faith — even a pattern of prayer — as Americans turned not to dial 911, but rather dropped to their knees and looked heavenward to God for help," President Monson said.
He also told the audience that on a day of mourning and remembrance, " we acknowledge with gratitude those heroes who climbed to rescue, and who succeeded in the attempt."
"Let us etch in our memories the supreme sacrifice of those who laid down their lives, who perished on that day where 'uncommon valor was a common virtue,' " President Monson.
The Very Rev. Joseph M. Mayo told the audience that "Jesus did not teach a violent jihad or a 'just war.' His words were not 'fight,' but 'reconcile.'"
Rabbi Benny Zippel, executive director of the Chabad Lubavitch of Utah, said the first step toward peace is the realization that every person is capable of evil and to learn to conquer that evil.
At the Utah State Fair, hundreds of people braved the rain to celebrate the heroes of 9/11 while surrounded by a fleet of Utah fire trucks, including one from as far away as Panguitch.
"What we found is we're still a nation devoted to liberty," Elder L. Tom Perry, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve of the LDS Church, told fairgoers. "We as Americans rallied together, and a new patriotism emerged."
Elder Perry said the founding of America was unique and the country's inspired Constitution has stood the test of time. "May God bless America," he concluded.
Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus performed "Some Gave All" at the ceremony, a song he recorded several years ago about the Vietnam War.
Salt Lake County welcomed its 10 newest members who are waiting for their own chance to prove their courage and honor.
"You're entering a family," said Salt Lake County councilman Mike Jensen, who is also a full-time paramedic.
Capt. Michael White, one of the three fire academy instructors, said he struggled with the idea of hosting the graduation on Sept. 11. But he and other department officials decided it was a fitting tribute.
"Remember the 343 brothers we lost and emulate their honor, courage, valor and pride," he told the graduating class.
Ten of the 12 recruits who started the fire academy finished. Those 10 said they felt a lot of emotion Wednesday, not just for their own accomplishments but also for what they represented that day.
"I think it was a great honor to show the loyalty we have for those we lost," graduate Dustin Dern said.
Many Muslims opted to stay indoors Sept. 11. Not that they were unmoved by the memories of the attacks or are unpatriotic, but for simple reasons of safety.
"It just takes one crazy person to make things difficult for us," Noor Ul-Hasan said. She has been active in the local Muslim community for years but stayed home with her children rather than attend an Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake memorial prayer service.
Ul-Hasan was not surprised when told that only a few people had showed up at the West Valley mosque for the late afternoon service, which closed with a prayer in English for victims of the terrorist attacks. Society officials estimate 20,000 to 25,000 in the Salt Lake Valley are Muslim, and hundreds regularly attend prayer meetings, but in the end only about a dozen people gathered in West Valley City.
Eight people gathered at the Muslim society's Salt Lake mosque, where members asked Allah to bring peace and justice to the world.
"Please help us stand together to fight evil," Iman Ali said. "We're here today for peace and justice."
"I got up at 4 a.m. and prayed for all the loved ones (of those killed) and asked for forgiveness," Marshall A. Motiwala said.
Steven Rosenberg, whose family is Jewish, lives and operates a business in the neighborhood of the mosque.
"I'm here to share. I'm here to show support," he said.
In Orem, police Lt. Doug Edwards said he saw a transient stop to watch the city's memorial observance Wednesday. "As the bagpiper played 'Amazing Grace' to close the program, he removed his tattered hat and hung his head. When the music stopped . . . this man quietly wiped his eyes and put on his hat" and continued on his way.
Edwards said the man's actions showed him all Americans share similar feelings about the tragedy. "It doesn't matter where we come from or what social status we claim, for when it comes to the events of Sept. 11, we remain one people."
Contributing: Alan Edwards, Laura Hancock, Diane Urbani, Josh Loftin, Lynn Arave, Pat Reavy.