Canfield man describes memorial as incredible

They also got a view of what's left at ground zero.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- When Steve Crisafi of Canfield heard there was going to be a huge event at Yankee Stadium honoring those who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he knew he had to be there.
Crisafi took his girlfriend, Cindi Yavorsky of Canfield, to New York City for the weekend to attend the interfaith prayer service for the terrorism victims and to get a glimpse of the immense tragedy that occurred Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center.
"We didn't realize the magnitude of what was happening at Yankee Stadium until we got there," Crisafi said. "The impact of being among [15,000 to 20,000] people in one place remembering what happened is incredible."
What was surprising: Crisafi, who has visited New York City a few times, and Yavorsky, who had never been there before, were amazed at how friendly New Yorkers were during this crisis.
"The patriotism that came out was amazing," he said. "To see people of all creeds, colors and religions holding hands and praying together was overwhelming. It was so moving."
Crisafi and Yavorsky had little trouble getting tickets to the free event that lasted more than three hours. Crisafi said they ran into a group of firefighters and police officers near Yankee Stadium -- home to the New York Yankees, venue for concerts and site of visits by the Rev. Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II -- handing out the complimentary tickets.
Security at the event was so tight that no one was permitted to take anything into the stadium, Crisafi said.
At WTC site: Crisafi and Yavorsky also visited the World Trade Center rubble Sunday before the stadium event and Monday and took pictures of what is left of the two 110-story buildings.
"We got down Broadway until we were stopped and got within a building of the World Trade Center," he said.
"You can see into the building, the rubble, the smoke, the windows, the firefighters. It's an incredible sight to see."
skolnick@vindy.com