The sound of holiday cheer drowned out the noise of heavy machinery removing tons of rubble on Friday, Dec. 7, at ground zero, as workers celebrated the lighting of a 30-ft. Christmas tree atop the ruins of the World Trade Center.

The idea for a tree-lighting ceremony was the brainchild of construction worker Jimmy Nolan who wanted to boost the morale of the workers at ground zero.

The tree was topped with an American flag and adorned with thousands of angels bearing the names of the more than 3,000 people killed or missing in the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks. It was illuminated by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani with help from children of the victims of the tragedy.

Giuliani compared the attacks to the surprise assault by the Japanese against the United States at Pearl Harbor. The 60th anniversary of bombing of Pearl Harbor was Friday.

"These terrorists attacked us because they thought we were weak,’ the mayor said to several hundred of recovery workers, many wearing American flag decals on their hard hats.

"But we’ve proven without a doubt that this generation is just as willing to fight to defend our freedom as the generation that was attacked in 1941,’ Giuliani said.

The ceremony included the singing of the national anthem and ”God Bless America.’

Officials also read the names of the dozens of construction workers, painters, carpenters and other laborers who perished in the attacks.

"We lost a great trophy,’ said Nolan, who stood next to the mayor during the ceremony. "We need this. I never saw so many people at ground zero with smiles on their faces.’