911 services gather for

9-11 service

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- They marched into the sanctuary at Holy Trinity Cathedral Wednesday morning to the strains of "God Bless America."

They entered the front door, two-by-two, faces still, eyes forward. Dressed in uniforms, they came in solid lines of shades of blue, but in no particular order.

The somber firefighters represented Brownton, Comfrey, Courtland, Cleveland, Lafayette, Litchfield and Winthrop.

The equally somber police officers hailed from Gaylord, Redwood Falls, Madelia, North Mankato, St. Peter and St. James.

A contingent of 15 police officers from Germany, who are visiting New Ulm as part of an ongoing exchange program, also participated. One of them carried a German flag with the color guard.

An estimated 110 police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel met at the cathedral for a memorial service to pay tribute to the 71 New York police officers and 341 New York firefighters who died in terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Like countless other cities, large and small, across the nation and the state, New Ulm experienced its share of observances for the Sept. 11 events in New York City, at the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania.

Area churches held times for personal reflection and prayer and remembrance services in the evening.

Washington Elementary School held a flag-raising ceremony. Flags on many poles around town flew at half-mast.

Inside the sanctuary of the cathedral during the morning service, New Ulm Police Chief Howard Zins wondered what it might have been like being a New York police officer on the day that America came under attack and responded with a war on terrorism.

"There's an old saying that the only two certain things in life are death and taxes," Zins said from a podium in front of the congregation. "I'm confident that I can add a third. The 71 police officers who died are at Precinct No. 1 in heaven and the 341 firefighters are at Station No. 1 in heaven."

Bishop John Clayton Nienstedt of the New Ulm Catholic Diocese described his reaction to the terrorist attacks as "surreal." He said the country continues to suffer the effects of the attacks today because the economy is in bad shape and also because America is fighting a "new war" against terrorists in caves and on residential streets.

"The greatest after-effect is our vulnerability," the bishop said. "It was then that the country rallied together and turned to God."

Nienstedt said he saw church attendance swell in the days following the attacks. The attacks also gave rise to the importance of prayer because people searched for answers beyond the headlines, Nienstedt said.

Phyllis Postel, president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 132, called for applause for the police officers and firefighters at the service. Postel also called for prayers for military personnel.

"I think they do a terrific job, and I think we need to applaud them," she said.

The congregation responded quickly with loud, enthusiastic clapping.

"I think it's good for us to be here today. I think we need that," Nienstedt said in the blessing he gave just before the service ended. "It's also good to say a public thanks to law enforcement because they have a thankless job."

Zins said later that he was pleased with the turnout at the service. He said he sent about 120 letters to police and fire chiefs and county sheriffs within a 50-mile radius of New Ulm.

Ulrich Heyer, one of the visiting police officers from Besenbruck, Germany, said similar commemorations are happening in Germany.

"It's very nice," he said at a reception following the service. "I remember seeing the pictures on television. We were making calls on the telephone to New Ulm."