I was working as a waitress in the Silver Star Diner in Patterson, NY. We had a TV mounted on the wall. I was serving a customer coffee when I happened to look up at the TV. “Look, the World Trade Center is on fire,” I said. That’s when the second plane came into view. I remember standing there for what seemed an eternity, still holding that steaming coffee pot. All I wanted to do was to go get my kids out of school and get them home. “It’s the beginning of World War III,” I thought. I will never forget the customers that came in that day. One man was from Canada, who drove down as soon as he heard, his daughter worked in one of the towers. He was trying to get down there to see if she was alright. He tried to call, but if you remember, cell phones did not work. I still think of that man today and if he ever found his daughter. I also refuse to get rid of my landline phone because I remember how grateful I was to have one that day. 911 changed us all. It ripped out our collective heart and solidified us as a country. To those that died as innocent victims, to those that died as heroes and to those they left behind…know that we, as Americans, as New Yorkers, as human beings will NEVER forget. And to those that continue to try and intimidate this great country through barbaric acts of cowardice…know one thing…you can run…but you can not hide. We ARE coming for you and we WILL get you…when you least expect it…so until then, best to sleep with one eye open and may you NEVER rest in peace.