When the towers fell, the Pentagon was in a blaze, and the plane crashed in a field, I was glued to my tv in an apartment in Killen, TX.

My sister, who was stationed at the military installation, called me and said I should turn on the tv because a plane flew into the World Trade Center. It was a horrible accident. When the second plane hit, everyone knew it was not an accident.

I imagined the entire country watching as news anchors talked about a terrorist attack and the possibility of other planes. When the first buildings fell, I cried and prayed that everyone was out safely. This was wishful thinking.

The military installation went into lock down and everyone was on guard. 9/11 was a long day that many of us will never forget. It was a day when many families grieved the loss of loved ones. A country and the world grieved.

Years later, I worked in behavioral health on military installations. There were service members who were at the Pentagon, who still remembered the smell of jet fuel and burning flesh.

One of the things I remembered after the tragedy was the unity. Strangers came together to support each other which continued long after the rubble was cleared and the Pentagon repaired. Out of the tragedy, people created foundations, made awareness of the cancer aftermath from inhaling toxic dust etc. People remembered their humanity towards others.

Grief has no timeline. So, we continue to remember those who died and honor the everyday people who became heroes.