New York ? Dozens of women who gave birth after their husbands died in the Sept. 11 attacks were given a baby shower Friday, a bittersweet gathering in which memories of tragedy mingled with the laughter of newborns.

The luncheon given by the Independent Women’s Forum’s Infant Care Project was organized to ease the pain of the attacks’ anniversary. About 70 widows and their babies attended.

Sheila Ornedo of Los Angeles, with her daughter, Robin, gathers with other widowed moms at the Infant Care Project Luncheon held by Independent Women's Forum in New York.

“I still cry every day,” said Jenna Jacobs, as she struggled with her fidgeting son, Gabriel. “The pain doesn’t go away.”

First lady Laura Bush sent a letter. Libby Pataki, the wife of New York’s governor, spoke above the wails of babies in an adjoining nursery.

The pink-and-white tablecloths at New York’s Cipriani restaurant were topped with floral centerpieces. Chairs were decorated with toy angels.

The greatest applause, and the most tears, followed the reading of a letter from Mariane Pearl, widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was killed earlier this year by Islamic militants in Pakistan.

“Our shared destiny implies a great deal of loneliness,” she wrote. “To win over terrorism is not to be crushed by sadness and despair. … Our role is to preserve life.”

Barasheed Ashrafi, another 9-11 widow, and her 1-year old son, Farqat Chowdhury, also attended Friday's event.

Pearl gave birth to a son, Adam, on May 28.

The Independent Women’s Forum helped fly in the women from throughout the country. It has granted $4,000 to each of the 102 widows who gave birth after the attacks to help pay for child care.

Sheila Ornedo, whose husband was on American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon, said Friday was the first time she had met with others like herself.

“It helps a lot emotionally to be here. It’s amazing to meet so many mothers who’ve had the same experience,” she said.

Barasheed Ashrafi, the only Muslim in the group, hugged her son, Farqat Chowdhury, as she said: “His father loved this country and when my son grows up I will tell him no matter what religion, everyone is praying for you.”