It was a somber occasion, the Friday night when American citizens in Mazatlan joined in spirit with their compatriots in the United States to remember the dead and pray for their families. The hastily arranged prayer and remembrance service brought together about 150 people, Americans and a few of their Canadian and Mexican friends. It took place in a meeting room at the Hotel Playa Mazatlan. Mayor Alejandro Higuera and several high-ranking city officials came to express their condolences to the grief-stricken crowd. After prayers, reflections and moments of silence, Mayor Higuera told the gathering that he was expressing “the solidarity, respect and most profound condolences” of the people of Mazatlan “for the acts of terrible cowardice that took place in the city of New York” on Sept. 11. He ended his remarks by condemning all forms of violence and adding a hearty “God bless the United States of America.” Half a dozen U.S. citizens came forward, one at a time, to share their thoughts on the terrorist attacks and their sorrow for the victims and families. The meeting ended with the singing of “America the Beautiful.” Tourists stranded here because of canceled flights and the border closure made up more than half of the audience. Others were members of the