09/11/2026
My first experience of September 11th came when, as a student at Western Michigan University, my clock radio alarm woke me to the sound of the morning show talking about the events of 9/11 as they were unfolding. Then, turning on the TV and watching it firsthand before getting notification that classes were cancelled. I spent the whole day watching and trying to process what happened, not fully understanding how the world would change thereafter.
In 2010, I had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero during the construction of One World Trade Center and stopped by the Liberty Street FDNY station - the closest to WTC and the first to arrive on scene that morning. The firefighters at "Ten House" were very kind to allow me to take a photo in front of their truck right before a call came in.