On this day 21 years ago, I dropped my daughters off at school and learned that a passenger jet had crashed into one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York city. As I arrived home, I watched on the news as a second passenger jet hit the other tower of the World Trade Center. Seeing the towers collapse was horrific. I packed my vehicle with provisions and gear, loaded my K-9 Miranda and headed to the police station. I advised the officers on duty I was headed to New York to assist with my police dog. The first to step forward and offer to accompany me was Officer Joe Paulfrey. We departed Lebanon, Ill., and drove straight to New York. We arrived on the morning of the 12th. We were not prepared for what we saw. We went to work right away and for the next week we did everything we could. Ground Zero took its toll on many on site. Miranda died shortly after we returned to Illinois, and both Joe and I developed lifelong medical issues. We both will never forget the experience of the things we saw. I truly believe we did some good and our assistance was needed. God bless all those who lost their lives on this day and all the responders who are still paying for being there. This verse in the Bible stuck with me then and now "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." ISAIAH 6:8 (KJV) My only regret is that I wished I could have done more.
USAF K-9 veteran