It doesn’t seem like 24 years ago. I remember it pretty vividly. I was at work in Lebanon when the news reported that a plane hit the World Trade Center. My first thought was that it wasn’t the first time a plane hit a building in Manhattan. It was strange for hit to happen these days with advanced air traffic control and no fog. Then, the second plane hit. It was clear then that this was not an accident. As the day unfolded, and air traffic was grounded, the silence was strange. I never noticed how common it was to see planes in the sky, until they were gone.

People rose up to be their best selves that day and in the days that followed. Differences were largely set aside so looking for survivors and cleaning up could go on. It’s too bad that it takes tragedy to make us be those people.

This is Tim Duffy. He was off work that day, but then suited up and went towards the destruction that everyone else was trying to get away from.

People did heroic things, and some died doing them. Never forget their sacrifice, their bravery, and their excellence.