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Rescue Work Continues at Ground Zero
By STEPHANIE GASKELL, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - The search for bodies in the World Trade Center wreckage stopped only briefly for Christmas services, then continued, with the crews determined to help console grieving families by bringing home the missing.
``In a weird way, it would be like a gift for somebody,'' said emergency services police officer Patrick Shea, who spent the holiday sifting through the debris.
Christmas Day marked 15 weeks since Sept. 11, when two hijacked jetliners crashed into the trade center towers and left nearly 3,000 people dead or missing.
The remains of several victims were found Christmas Eve as crews reached what had been the underground levels of the trade center.
The rescue workers at the site Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had volunteered to be there. Many said their families missed them on Christmas, but they noted that it was nothing like what victims' relatives were going through.
``If you have to work on Christmas, as far as a fireman is concerned, this is the place to be,'' said New York firefighter Tom Sweetman.
Huge crowds of locals and tourists also gathered at the site to pay their respects. Veronique Fellous, who traveled from Paris to celebrate the holiday in New York, said she wanted to be there to feel like part of the community.
Army National Guard Sgt. Enrique Guadalupe spent the day escorting dozens of victims' families to a viewing platform at the site. He said it was an honor to be working at the site on Christmas.
``They go in one way, and when they come out, they have a whole different expression,'' he said. ``I guess they feel some sort of closure.''
Workers gathered inside a giant tent on the site throughout the day, where Salvation Army volunteers served a Christmas meal of prime rib, turkey and ham.
By STEPHANIE GASKELL, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - The search for bodies in the World Trade Center wreckage stopped only briefly for Christmas services, then continued, with the crews determined to help console grieving families by bringing home the missing.
``In a weird way, it would be like a gift for somebody,'' said emergency services police officer Patrick Shea, who spent the holiday sifting through the debris.
Christmas Day marked 15 weeks since Sept. 11, when two hijacked jetliners crashed into the trade center towers and left nearly 3,000 people dead or missing.
The remains of several victims were found Christmas Eve as crews reached what had been the underground levels of the trade center.
The rescue workers at the site Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had volunteered to be there. Many said their families missed them on Christmas, but they noted that it was nothing like what victims' relatives were going through.
``If you have to work on Christmas, as far as a fireman is concerned, this is the place to be,'' said New York firefighter Tom Sweetman.
Huge crowds of locals and tourists also gathered at the site to pay their respects. Veronique Fellous, who traveled from Paris to celebrate the holiday in New York, said she wanted to be there to feel like part of the community.
Army National Guard Sgt. Enrique Guadalupe spent the day escorting dozens of victims' families to a viewing platform at the site. He said it was an honor to be working at the site on Christmas.
``They go in one way, and when they come out, they have a whole different expression,'' he said. ``I guess they feel some sort of closure.''
Workers gathered inside a giant tent on the site throughout the day, where Salvation Army volunteers served a Christmas meal of prime rib, turkey and ham.