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I was 2-1/2 miles North of the WTC. I walked around a corner on 28th and 6th avenue and noticed a crowd staring South. I saw people listening intently to radios and heard something about a bomb at the WTC. I thought it was a radio goof until I looked south at 8:50am and saw the huge smoking gash at the top of the North Tower. Unbelievable.

Shortly after that I saw the bright orange fireball of the second plane impact. Later I saw through binoculars, debris falling. Then I realized it was not debris but people flailing on the way down, at which point I turned white. Soon I was watching the towers fall and the huge dust cloud coming from down town.

The most vivid image I remember was when the second tower fell the outer structure and floors fell leaving behind what had to be 40 stories of the inner core, columns and pipes standing up for 5-10 seconds before it fell. It looked like some bizarre stalagmite and I thought, OMG, someone might be in that remaining portion all of a sudden exposed to the world around them, knowing the end was just about to come.

"I was 2-1/2 miles North of the WTC."

Same here, office between 26th and 27th.

I get in at 7am, around 8:45am a fellow colleague stated he heard a very large explosion outside. I went on FR and soon realized a plane had crashed into the WTC; I believed it was deliberate from the get go.

For most of the day I just watched and listened while roaming the streets. The pain and grief was obvious everywhere. It was surreal, everything was quiet except for the sirens, helicopters, passing military jets over head and the sobs of those crying.

All attempts to contact my wife were fruitless, the circuits were always busy. Sent an e-mail to my brother asking him to tell my wife that I was alright, wasn't sure how I was to get home though.

Around 11am I remember talking to a friend outside on 26th street, I knew we would soon be at war. I also knew nothing would be the same going forward.

Walking to the LIRR around 4pm was easy that day, no cars were on the streets except for emergency personnel. It was so quiet. We were greeted at the LIRR entrance by Police in Flap jackets and Automatic weapons. Dogs sniffed us up and down, while the police searched us. Although there were thousands of us waiting, no one seemed to mind.

The ride home was crowded and very quiet for the most part. Seating was accommodated for those who were obviously more affected, the amount of sought covering them gave them away. It was if we were all in a state of shock.

When I got off the train in Babylon I went to the Church around the corner from the station and prayed.

When I got home I hugged my wife and kid, I couldn't let go of my daughter.

Later that evening I sat with my frightened daughter in her room and attempted to explain to her the meaning of the days events. That day she learned about good and evil.

That's what I did on 9-11.