NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Paul McCartney, the former Beatle whose father was a Liverpool fireman, brought the star-studded "Concert for New York City" to an end early Sunday morning, commemorating fire and police department rescuers and raising money for the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a featured speaker at the crowded Madison Square Garden event, called his city the "greatest" and said New Yorkers, despite their tears for those lost, are "stronger, tougher and ready to defend ourselves as never before."
Mick Jagger, Elton John, Jim Carrey, Eric Clapton, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld were among more than two dozen show business notables who appeared live or in the several films about New York. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., husband Bill Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., made appearances as well.
Throughout the nearly six-hour show, fire fighters, police, emergency workers, survivors of the Sept. 11 attacks and family members of the victims were brought on stage for recognition.
"New Yorkers and Americans have united as never before," Giuliani said. "We all have a renewed appreciation for the blessings of freedom, a renewed appreciate for our firemen and police."
The mayor said the fire department, city police, Port Authority police officers, "our EMS workers, our court officers, our emergency managers together saved more than 25,000 lives at the World Trade Center." New Jersey rescue workers were also honored.
"My dad was a fireman, World War II," McCartney said. "Liverpool, took some heavy bombing. I'm proud of him, all you guys."
McCartney was credited with making the production come together and he performed a song dedicated to freedom he said was written the day after the Sept. 11 attacks.
McCartney also reached back to the Beatles repertoire for "Let It Be" and the evocative "Yesterday" which prompted the longest and loudest applause and cheers.
Giuliani said New York remains "the greatest city in the world" and that "we will continue to be the place where people want to go and the capital of the world."
"Our enemies should not mistake the fact," he said, "that even though they see us cry and mourn those who were lost, we are stronger, tougher and ready to defend ourselves as never before."
Another benefit concert is being prepared for RFK stadium in Washington, for Sunday night, featuring more stars, including Janet Jackson, for those affected by the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon.
The concert was telecast on the VH1 cable network and streamed on the Internet by AOL.
