I worked in Midtown Manhattan that day. Not downtown where this was, but it was a crazy day that I will never forget. On the train from NJ into the city, people's cell phones kept going off (at a time when not everyone was glued to phones) and the people were saying a small plane hit a tower. We could see the building smoking as we approached Newark NJ Train station to transfer to the NYC train. At that time we didn't know about a terrorist plot but I did hear people hinting it could be. I remember watching the Path train headed toward the World Trade Center (my guess is it was the last one that went there that day) as I boarded my transfer. Once I got to NY Penn Station, some employee happened to walk by and I heard him say "the Pentagon too?". That's when I started to get worried. The entire place was full of confused looks and more energy than usual.

I took the E train to 42nd Street and walked to work. I knew we had a TV there my boss was already there with a look of disbelief. We watched events unfold for hours. One of my female employees was really scared and wanted to go home around lunch time. I went with her but we already knew all mass transportation was shut down. We walked the 12+ blocks toward Penn Station. I'll never forget the silence. We were walking through Time Square and not a sound. The city has never been that silent and probably never will again.

As we neared our destination, we started seeing people with white dust on them - their nice suits, dresses, faces. They looked like zombies wandering aimlessly. No emotion, just blank stares at the ground. They were most likely replaying what they experienced over and over in their head. Penn Station was surrounded by military police and yellow tape and barriers. My co-worker was on the verge of crying but I reassured her. I told her they just needed time to make sure things were clear and then we could go home to see our families in a couple hours. So, we walked back to work. No cell phone calls would go through that day so we couldn't even call our families. That was another scary thing. They didn't know if we were OK or when we would be home.

We waited until 5 or 6pm and took our chances again. With the rest of the crowd, we ran from station to station to try to find a way. Finally we found a Path Train back to Newark NJ - the line that didn't go to WTC. People were panicked and worried and cramped on the train. You couldn't fit another thing on there. But everyone was in the same boat and nobody complained or pushed. We all had the same goal - escaping hell.

Many of the people on the train had white dust on their faces and in their hair and clothes. At Newark, we split up to different trains. I ran because I saw mine was leaving. Same thing as the Path Train - packed in like sardines. On any other day, the guy who's face was stuck in my armpit (as I held an overhead to keep balance) would have minded. But he was thinking about getting home like I was. I was able to call my wife finally and let her know what time to pick me up from the train. What I didn't realize at the time is my wife as unaware exactly where I worked in the city. So, the whole day she didn't know if I was near the scene or not.

Another thing I'll never forget about that day is when we finally arrived at my destination. The lady walking in front of me couldn't hold it together once she saw her husband. I could see her speed up despite her awkward gate and I could hear her breathing heavy while trying to catch herself from breaking down right there. She and her husband embraced and started weeping.

Anyway, there are images and feelings and (lack of) sounds that I will never forget. And I wasn't even in the thick of it. I'm not sure how I would be mentally if I was one of the people that had to run down the street while being chased by a white cloud of dust when the buildings came down. Or seeing people jump or losing coworkers.

Some years later I did work downtown - two blocks from the WTC. Took the Path Train to the site of the WTC. It was just a big hole in the ground with steel beams and pipes sticking out. I met people that were in the same building when it happened. They said they were in the emergency exit stairwell when the 2nd plane came by and could feel the energy shake the building seconds before impact. A crazy time in the history of this country.

Somehow instead of destroying these people, the same people that want us dead are getting stronger and their message is spreading. I'm so glad Mr. Trump got elected. He is our only hope to right this ship. If Hiilary won, I would fear more attacks on the same level as that day.