Fires continue to burn at Ground Zero, the site of the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. New Yorkers are attending memorial services around the city and continuing funding raising efforts for the families of the more than 5,000 missing and dead.
Silence filled the epicenter of the attack at 8:48 a.m. the exact moment the first of two hijacked airplanes hit the north tower of the World Trade Center September 11, leaving the city in mourning and the nation in shock.
During the ceremony at the site, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani told recovery workers the rebuilding of the city will be dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attack. Later at a news conference, he talked about New York's rebounding spirit. "One month later and the city is stronger, more united, and more determined than ever," he said. "So, whatever designs these terrorist cowards had, their designs did not work. They did not break the spirit of the city. They made the city of New York a much stronger place than it was before in every respect."
Meanwhile, money flows in from all over the world to help the families of victims. Fundraising for the families has become an on-going activity. Actors and musicians, doctors and lawyers, churches and charities - hundreds of groups across the city, state and nation are establishing events to raise money.
October 11 is the kickoff for Windows of Hope, a charity designed to raise money for the families of restaurant workers lost in the tragedy. The event is spearheaded by the owners and chefs of Windows On The World, the elegant restaurant that sat atop One World Trade Center. More than 70 members of the restaurant's staff are missing. And dozens of other restaurant industry workers, many delivering morning coffee and rolls to offices throughout the buildings, are also presumed dead.
Thousands of restaurants in New York and throughout the United States will donate 10 percent of their October 11 dinner receipts to the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund
Tim Zagat, the chairman of New York's tourist board, said the event will also get city residents out to eat. He says New York's faltering restaurant industry deserves the support of local residents and tourists alike. "I want to say 'thank you' to the restaurant industry which between September 11 and October 1 literally fed everybody working in the rescue efforts and all of the aggrieved families," he said. "They were feeding people 50,000 hot meals a day and they were doing it without being asked and without charging. They just went out and did it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You make me feel proud."
Mr. Zagat says more than 3,000 restaurants from a dozen nations are participating. Many restaurants will continue donating portions of their receipts until the end of the year.