I was in college, having just started my third year. I was asleep in my loft bed in room 425 of the 150 Massachusetts Avenue dormitory of Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. The phone rang and startled me awake, my mother on the other end telling me in an almost-monotone voice “A plane had just hit the World Trade Center. They don’t know what happened, they think it might have been an Air Traffic Control accident.” A short pause later, and she said “Wait….now they are saying a second plane hit the second tower. This isn’t an accident.”

I woke my roommate immediately, a NY resident and passionate supporter of the NYPD and FDNY. I filled him in on what I’d heard, and I will never forget the look on his face as long as I live.  He and I went to the lounge of our dorm building, the room filled with our fellow students all watching the live coverage of the buildings on fire, in tears.  Many were trying to reach loved ones on their cell phones and having great difficulties, since the networks of the time were overloaded with people trying to reach their loved ones.

Now I’m sitting here watching the memorial service, ten years later. We will never forget what happened that day, and we will always remember what it’s done to us. I can’t help think that even though we were brutally attacked and many had lost their lives, what is even worse is hearing the children of those who had been taken from us, when talking about their lost relative, say “I wish I could have known you better.”

To those who have given their lives for us, we will always remember you and be grateful for your ultimate sacrifice.