MESSAGE OF PEACE `WE'RE ALL ONE' 9-11 SURVIVOR SPEAKS AT ANTI-VIOLENCE EVENT.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Teenagers heard about the importance of averting violence, whether among young people or in acts of political terrorism, in the fourth annual Increase the Peace Day on Wednesday.

Hosted by Palmdale High School, the event featured New York Fire Department emergency medical services Capt. Stephen Ceraulo, who survived the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack, and Terri Smooke, assistant to Gov. Gray Davis.

``What you are doing and have been doing is so important,'' Smooke told the teens. ``You are the ones who are responsible for shaping our world.''

The event was created in the wake of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings that left 13 students dead and 21 others injured. Each year, students recruit speakers to talk about averting violence among young people, officials said.

The presentation began with student Oscar Alcerro talking about the Columbine shootings and what may have triggered the two student gunmen to go on their rampage.

``What drove these two students to such a violent act of terrorism?'' Alcerro asked rhetorically. ``Words, simple words like 'outcast,' 'weirdo,' 'freak,' 'stupid,' 'dummy,' 'retard.' Words, simple words, can hurt.''

Ceraulo then told the teens what it was like on Sept. 11, 2001, when his partner was killed in the World Trade Center collapse and he, Ceraulo, managed to survive only by chance.

Ceraulo recounted that day, from his heading to a routine meeting for an anti-graffiti program, through the first call to his worried wife hours later.

After the jets hit the World Trade Center, Ceraulo said, he and his partner headed toward the disaster to try to help. His partner made it through a checkpoint without being stopped by police.

Ceraulo, however, was stopped. Irritated by the inconvenience of wasting precious moments to show his Fire Department identification, Ceraulo was finally allowed to pass.

But as he ran toward the World Trade Center, he watched as the north tower collapsed into a pile of rubble with his partner inside.

``That delay probably saved my life,'' Ceraulo said.

A huge cloud of black smoke and debris then rushed through the area where Ceraulo was standing. He turned to run, describing the cloud as ``a locomotive coming up behind me fast.'' He threw himself to the ground and crawled under a parked car, where he cupped his hands over his head, thinking of his wife and daughter.

When the smoke and debris settled, Ceraulo said, he began doing what he was trained to do: helping the injured. He worked hours with doctors and fellow firefighters to haul out the injured and cover the dead.

Ceraulo has since received nine letters of commendation and 12 ``Pre- Hospital Save'' awards and was the honoree at the First Annual New York City Emergency Medical Service Second Chance Breakfast. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor and the World Trade Center Survivor Ribbon.

Ceraulo had a simple message for the teens.

``All that matters is that we're all human beings, and we're all one,'' Ceraulo said. ``I'm not a hero. I'm simply someone who did my job. The people who are heroes are the ones who stand up and say, We want peace, and teach tolerance. Those are the true heroes.''

Ceraulo compared the Columbine shootings and the Oklahoma City federal building bombing to the 9-11 attacks: They were all unnecessary acts of violence and pure terrorism, he said.

The Antelope Valley Union High School District program is part of a valleywide Keep the Peace program.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Robert and the Good Fella Band performs ``Man in the Mirror'' at Palmdale High School's Increase the Peace Day.

(2 -- color) Stephen Ceraulo of the New York City Fire Department, tells the crowd at Palmdale High School: ``All that matters is that we're all human beings.''

(3 -- color) Stephen Ceraulo applauds with his wife, Debra, left, and school district trustee Donita Winn.

(4) Stephen Ceraulo of the New York City Fire Department speaks at Palmdale High's Increase the Peace event Wednesday.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer