By Dylan Butler
The thousands who jammed Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered Monday night. But not for tennis, not yet.
Before the first serve on Opening Night of the 2002 U.S. Open, the crowd roared during the “Salute to Heroes,” a touching patriotic tribute to the victims and heroes of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which occurred two days after the end of last year’s tournament.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Astoria native Tony Bennett, entertainer Queens Latifah and actor Judd Hirsch participated in the nearly half- hour ceremony, which was highlighted by the raising of the “Heroes flag,” a large American flag that was recovered from the World Trade Center attacks.
“This is always a terrific time in New York City, with the last Grand Slam of the tennis season kicking off right here in Flushing, Queens,” said Bloomberg, who ended an eight-year City Hall boycott of the U.S. Open. “This year’s Open is special, it’s another indication that our city is well on its way to recovering from the tragedy of Sept. 11.”
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani never attended the tournament because he opposed a provision in the USTA’s 99-year lease negotiated by his predecessor David Dinkins that called for fines against the city for unnecessary flyovers by airplanes from nearby LaGuardia Airport.
Surrounded by flags of the 60 countries representing the different players at the U.S. Open, the “Heroes flag,” was unfurled at center court by the U.S. Marine Corps in West Trenton, N.J. as Hirsch told the story of the flag.
“Today we’re here to celebrate heroes and heroism, patriots and patriotism and the tenacious American spirit as symbolized by one very special flag, one single American flag that epitomizes the strength of the human spirit,” Hirsch said. “This is that flag.”
The flag was recovered by New York City Police Officer Peter J. Conlin, a former U.S. Marine, at Two World Financial Center. The flag, completely intact, was signed by hundreds of friends and family of the victims of the terrorist attacks and bears the names of 23 police officers who died there. It was taken by the U.S. Marine Corps to Afghanistan, where it was raised after the capture of Kandahar Airport.
Tennis legends John McEnroe, a Douglaston native, and Billie Jean King led the procession of flags and Bennett sang, “America the Beautiful,” with backing vocals by the Kids America Children’s Chorus.
“To see all those soldiers and that American flag, everything about it was wonderful,” Bennett said on USA Network later that night. “It was a very emotional thing for everybody, and anybody who saw it in America was moved by it so much. I guess I just wanted to make sure it worked so that it was OK for everybody. It’s unforgettable, though.”
During Latifah’s funky version of “The Star Spangled Banner,” the flag was raised high above Arthur Ashe Stadium to a throng of cheers from the crowd.
The ceremony was not the only tribute to Sept. 11. Near the Arthur Ashe monument just outside the stadium which bears his name stands the 2,700-pound bronze statue of a firefighter kneeling, head bowed with helmet in hand. It was originally commissioned for the Firefighters Association of Missouri but has since been donated to the city of New York.
The statue, which has been seen throughout Manhattan since last September, is on loan to the National Tennis Center.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
