Hundreds of butterflies were seen by Detective Amadeo Pulley, a 9/11 rescue worker, as he worked between the north and south towers. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

It is difficult to believe that the 9/11 attacks happened 23 years ago. Some parents weren’t even alive when the first hijacked plane hit the north Twin Tower. Those of us who were alive remember the moment and confusion. With almost 3,000 deaths, the part that has always astounded me is the number of people who rushed to the aid of others. Firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel ran toward danger.

When the second plane hit the South Tower, I was in a doctor’s office three hours away, listening to sirens go off while every available trained person left to give assistance to those in need. Along with anyone deemed not critical, a nurse brought me to a room with makeshift stations while workers took any available medical equipment surrounding us. Administrators announced that the attached hospital was working with minimal staff. Patients were looked after and sent home. We all waited for news of family and friends.

There were over 354 firefighters who lost their lives that day. People ran into danger without even knowing at the time that the towers were going to collapse. According to the New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, as of 2023, another 343 first responders have died from World Trade Center-related illnesses.

During those times of emergency, first responders don’t care who needs help. Their training is to assist everyone. These people didn’t distinguish between race or religion. They didn’t know all the details about militant terrorist attacks. These trained emergency professionals knew people needed help. They were not afraid. It’s astounding.

Many things came out of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, such as changes to airline security, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the start of the “War on Terror.” According to a September 2023 Watson Institute report, people of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Arab descent became targets of government racial profiling with a special registration requirement for certain Arab and Muslim males. There was a rise in Muslim prejudices and hate crimes, which continues today. These are just a few highlights, not an entire history lesson.

I look around our community and know that when an emergency hits, we have people who will run to our rescue. They run toward the fire. The goal of trained first responders is to aid everyone.

With this 23rd anniversary of 9/11, I want to remember the people who sacrificed themselves and deliberately put themselves in the way of danger to help anyone in need.