I personally knew 6 people who died that day. Two were former coworkers who transferred from the NYPD to the FD (One civil service test I NEVER took). Another, a good neighborhood kid who got himself out of the neighborhood by studying his butt off and becoming a broker. 3 neighbors gone too. And just about everyone I know knew someone who...........

My sister in-law got out 5 minutes before the collapse. My brother was working a half mile away. He panicked when he could not get in touch with her and went to the scene. They both were less than a couple of city blocks away, but in opposite directions, when the first tower collapsed. I knew he was there. I knew she was there. The two hours before they both turned up OK were the longest of my life.

I don't want to get on a soapbox, but I get the strong sense that we, as a country, do not have the stomach to do what needs to be done to protect ourselves. One day, the lure of life in the big city will call my two kids. I see the signs already. Call me selfish, but I want to be sure that that $hit never, ever happens again. And I know we can never be certain that it won't happen again. At a minimum, lets make it clear to those who cheered that $hit on that the payback will come, and it will be severe. If that is the best tresult we can get, it would be worth the price we are paying. End of rant.

God bless all those and theirs.