Solidarity: Millions observed a three-minute silence
Posted on 09/14/2001 5:55:00 AM PDT by MadIvan
Across the UK there were services of remembrance for the dead and missing, after the shocking events which Prime Minister Tony Blair said would touch "every community".
More than 500 Britons are expected to be confirmed dead among more than 5,000 people thought to have died in Tuesday's strikes.
Some 43 European countries and many millions of their residents observed the silence from 1100BST (1000GMT).
 Floral tributes have been left at the US embassy in London
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Crowds fell silent at a memorial service at City Hall in Belfast. There were also religious services in Londonderry, Armagh and Portadown.
In London the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales, was joining Prime Minister Tony Blair and the American ambassador at a public remembrance service at St Paul's Cathedral from 1200 BST.
Blair pledge
In Parliament, recalled for an emergency debate on the atrocities, MPs and peers stood in silence after many had spoken out condemning the attacks.
Earlier, Mr Blair told members the US terror was a tragedy of "epoch-making proportions", and pledged to bring to account the perpetrators of the "hideous" atrocities.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said the attack highlighted the need for global cooperation in tackling terrorism and said he would look again at the issue of identity cards for UK citizens.
Day of mourning
The Foreign Office has revealed that 16,000 people called its helpline after the attacks.
At least 100 Britons have been confirmed dead but the number is expected to rise to the "middle hundreds", the foreign secretary has said.
US President Bush George Bush declared Friday a day of national mourning.
The BBC was broadcasting a special live programme, presented by David Dimbleby, on BBC One and all BBC radio and television networks marked the silence.
At Cathays Park in Cardiff, Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan led members in observing the silent tribute.
And Scotland's First Minister Henry McLeish called on Scots to also pay their respects at 1100BST.
 Emotions ran high during the silent tribute
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There is room for up to 2,000 people at the St Paul's service, which opened to the public from 1030BST.
But many more are expected to want to attend.
The Dean of St Paul's, the Very Rev John Moses, said: "I think there will be a note of hope in the service. The message we have had from the American embassy is that they want this to be upbeat and not totally solemn, and I hope we will capture something of that."
In Liverpool, a mass to remember those killed and injured in the attack will be held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King at 1715BST. It will be led by the Archbishop of Liverpool.
Flight chaos
Days after the attack, thousands of travellers remain stranded in the UK with most flights to the US still grounded.
US airports are gradually reopening but there are still few transatlantic flights likely to leave the UK on Friday.
On Thursday thousands flocked to the specially-adapted changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
In an unprecedented move, the US National Anthem was played at the ceremony. This was followed by a two-minute silence to remember the dead.
The families of many of the Britons confirmed to have died have been contacted by Scotland Yard's casualty bureau.
None of the confirmed casualties has yet been named.
Thank you so much. God bless you.
Then we shall win. Thanks for the flag.
The Queen joined the Prime Minister, the American ambassador and ordinary members of the public for a remembrance service at St Paul's Cathedral.
The service opened with a rendition of America's national anthem. Hundreds of voices joined in with the Star Spangled Banner.
Crowds outside, which included vast numbers of American tourists, also joined in. The US citizens crossed their hands over their hearts to swear their allegiance to their country.
A solitary candle was lit as a mark of respect for the thousands who lost their lives in the terrible events which have unfolded in the United States.
Politicians united in their grief - putting aside their differences to share the pain of the world.
Prime Minister Tony Blair and wife, Cherie, were among the first to arrive after he had given a resolute speech to an emergency session of the Commons.
Prayers were said for the American community in the United Kingdom, all those who lost their lives and their families, friends and colleagues.
The congregation then joined in to say the Lord's Prayer as pleas were made for the people of the world to unite against terrorism.
They stood to sing a powerful rendition of Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise with some people wiping away tears as they belted out the hymn.
The first lesson was read by the American Ambassador William Farish. The Duke of Edinburgh read the second lesson.
The congregation stood to sing Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer before the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey made his address.
"Our hearts go out to you, you are firmly in our prayers, we are with you in your hour of need," he told the American nation.
"True faith is never overcome by disasters of this nature. There is something unconquerable about the faith we share," he added.
He said the sun shining over the Statue of Liberty had stood as a beacon of hope representing all that was good about America.
"I watched in horror as the towers of the World Trade Centre disappeared under a cloud of dust and smoke," said Dr Carey.
"Evil had been perpetrated against America and against the free world. Our world must be a world where such violence is a thing of the past."
Americans had made it known they wanted the service to be upbeat, so the address was followed by a rendition of the famous marching song from the American Civil War - the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Dr Carey gave the blessing of God Almighty to the congregation before the service closed with the British national anthem.
I hope the British people know how much that meant to us. I've never felt closer to foreigners. I am proud of Britain and can only express the heartfelt gratitude I have for your support.
I heard there was a segment on the ABC news w/Peta Jennings (ACK!) in which he was viewing a clip in London with the changing of the guard in which the Queen had them play our National Anthem or America the Beautiful and when they went back to the studio, Jennings was visibly crying. Can you fill me in or does anyone have a clip (more interested in the video of the ceremony than Jennings)?
God Bless the Forces of Freedom and God Bless the United States of America.
It will well tears.
I came to see that this is becoming a religious war, Christian and Jews against militant Muslims (not all Muslims). It is not our fanatics against their fanatics. It is our sober, angry and vengefull peoples against their fanatics.
It would be wise for the Muslim world to comprehend this.
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