Lovely, and very thought provoking. I'm so pleased at your mention of David Letterman; I watched that night and was somewhere between awe and heartbreak. It is one of the most amazing moments in television history. So thank you.

As strange as this may sound, my most vivid memory of 9/11 is walking to the corner of 12th Street and 7th Avenue South just moments after the first plane hit. There were hundreds upon hundreds of doctors and nurses in their seafoam green scrubs, stretchers neatly lined row upon row, wheelchairs ready to receive the injured. Portable operating rooms side-by side...But, sadly, it was never to be. It didn't take very long for those truly dedicated practitioners to realize what we would all soon know, that most wouldn't be coming to St. Vincent's. The looks on their faces spoke volumes in both pain and frustration.

We did receive close to 600 survivors, and they and their families were treated like our families. It was a very inspirational time even under the most trying circumstances. We had drop-in centers with counseling for anyone who just needed to talk or maybe not talk.

For all the times we've seem man's inhumanity to his fellow man, what I saw practiced by my fellow employees that day will stay with me forever.

[Thanks, Eileen -- for taking the time to listen, and also, even more, for taking the time to share. If anyone else wants to recount his or her own decade-ago memories or feelings, I'd love to read, and post, them... - DB]

I was the concierge at the Millennium Hilton, across the street from the Twin Towers. When the first plane hit, we thought it was an accident. Then when I saw the 2nd plane going into the South Tower, I was devistated! I, along with my fellow colleagues, started evacuating the hotel, and then started running when the buildings fell. I didn't get home until 8:00 that evening (I live in NJ). As someone who grew up in Manhattan & saw the entire lower Manhattan area being built, this was too much for me. Added to this, two weeks after 9/11, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer! I am happy to report that she is a survivor, and we will be participating in her 9th Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure on October 2 in NJ.

p.s. I don't get downtown much anymore..it is just too painful for me!

[Len -- I can't imagine how horrific it must have been to be in the midst of all that fear and chaos, and to witness the falling of the towers firsthand. I'm glad both you and your wife are still around, a decade later, to say you ARE still around. Great to hear from you! -- DB]

Speaking of listening, the NPR archives also contain the Weekend Edition Sunday show from 9/16/01. All of it is amazing, but two noted parts. First the weekly montage of "Voices in the News", including in-the-moment sound from ABC's GMA, then listen to Sinead O'Connor (yes,really) singing the Prayer of St. Francis, aka "Make Me A Channel of Your Peace" from Ireland's memorial show from RTE. Try not to weep. I dare you. I threw away my faith years ago, but this is so heartfelt, it transcends religion.

[Thanks for the heads up on this one. Sounds great. And I mean that literally. -- DB]