Friends, relatives mourn dead at Pa. crash site; memorials held for other victims

Tuesday, September 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP) _ Using a cluster of hay bales for a memorial, about 200 family members and friends of the victims aboard hijacked United Flight 93 left flowers, photographs, teddy bears and other mementos.

``Today, I was lucky enough to overlook some hallowed ground for our country,'' said Gordon Felt, whose brother Edward died when the plane, one of four taken Sept. 11 by terrorists, crashed in a field 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. ``It's probably the first of many visits that will bring closure.''

Separate memorial services were held Monday for other victims of the crashes. Two of the hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York and another hit the Pentagon.

Only United Flight 93 failed to hit its intended target. Phone calls from the plane have left many speculating the passengers fought back and brought the plane down before it could hit a target, possibly in Washington. Many are calling them heroes.

First lady Laura Bush attended a second memorial service, held under a tent on a golf course about four miles from the Pennsylvania crash site. At each end of the tent were vials of soil from the crash site for mourners to take home.

``One of last Tuesday's victims, in his final message to his family, said that he loved them and that he would see them again,'' Bush told the 300 people present. ``You grieve today, and the hurt will not soon go away. But that hope is real, and it's forever, just as the love you share with your loved ones is forever.''

In Dracut, Mass., about 2,000 people attended a memorial service for John Ogonowski, 50, a pilot killed aboard hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which hit one of the twin towers.

``United Americans standing tall. That's what John sees today when he looks down,'' said his brother, Jim Ogonowski. ``Our spirit stands unbroken. John would be so proud.''

In Providence, R.I., the Most Rev. Kenneth A. Angell said Mass for his brother David Angell, 54, the executive producer of the television comedy ``Frasier'' and another victim of the crash of Flight 11.

In Pennsylvania's Upper Providence Township, south of Philadelphia, a 21-gun salute was fired for Michael R. Horrocks, 38, the first officer on the other jet that hit the World Trade Center, United Flight 175.

``He had a real zest for community and family,'' said the Rev. Ralph Chieffo of St. Mary Magdalen Church.

A flight attendant aboard the same United jet, Alicia Titus, 28, was mourned at a separate memorial service Monday, in Urbana, Ohio. Her father, John Titus, read a poem he wrote, describing his daughter's greatest gifts as ``peace, love, joy and life.''

He said he had no doubt ``Alicia died while trying to do good in the midst of evil.''