The sky was clear, as it was three years ago, the water a crystalline mirror that reflected the small planes overhead.

Even a cruise ship was there, just like three years ago.

The main difference between Feb. 24, 1996, and Feb. 24, 1999: a Coast Guard cutter on the spot where Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Pena and Armando Alejandre were last seen in the Florida Straits.

On Wednesday, Brothers to the Rescue observed another anniversary of the shootdown of two of their Cessnas by Cuban MiGs over international waters by flying to the spot 20 miles north of Havana.

``Today we remember them,'' said Jose Basulto, president of the organization and one of the survivors of the ill-fated trip three years ago. ``We're happy that we were able to say prayers for them and throw flowers to them.''

Guillermo Lares, who was piloting one of the three planes that participated in Wednesday's memorial, led the group's prayers in the air.

``We remember Mario, Carlos, Armando and Pablo, who are always with us,'' said Lares, over the spot where his four friends were shot down.

``We will never forget you, our shared convictions, our convictions with Cuba,'' Lares continued. ``We will carry on.''

After the short prayer ceremony, Brothers' members in other planes tossed hundreds of bumper sticker-sized leaflets to the wind.

The papers -- which read, ``Carlos, Armando, Mario, Pablo Live!'' -- reportedly reached Havana on Wednesday evening, said Basulto, who also sent a cockpit-to-Cuba message that was broadcast through Radio Marti.

Returning to Opa-locka Airport after the 4 1/2-hour flight, Basulto said he was especially moved by the similarities in the two Feb. 24s -- 1996 and 1999.

``When I was up there, I couldn't help but think, `This is the same scenario,' '' Basulto said. ``The sky was clear, even the boat was there in the same place.''

When the two Cuban MiGs rocketed the two Brothers aircraft in 1996, horrified passengers on a nearby cruise ship, Majesty of the Seas, looked on. Some even recorded images of a smoke-filled sky.

Prayer was a constant then and now.

Wednesday's mission started just like they've all started since the group began scouring the Florida Straits for rafters: in a circle of prayer.

This one, however, was held in the shadow a monument that has been erected for the fallen volunteers at Opa-locka Airport -- and moments after their family members concluded their own tribute.

Because relations have become strained between Basulto and his group and many of the relatives of the pilots and passengers who died, the family members scheduled their own memorial, a Mass celebrated Wednesday evening.

One, however, did participate in the Brothers' prayer circle: Morales' mother, Eva Barbas.

Dressed in black, Barba went to the airport with white carnations and pink roses to ask Basulto to throw them to her son at sea.

``I'm here to remember my son,'' Barbas said. ``One day, there will be justice for him. I leave that in God's hands.''