I Was at Ground Zero—The Thing I Remember Most Is a Plate of Rigatoni

Thank you so much for your service and for sharing your story, Pat. As Karla said in the comment below, you brought such an unexpected and important perspective. Really proud to have published it.

I volunteered on one of those Spirit of New York boats. Bussing tables, making sure everything was clean and neat, placing the handmade cards from elementary school kids that were arriving in huge canvass bags from all around the country out on the tables, hoping you saw them, hoping you ate, hoping to do something, anything to give strength and support to the heroes tasked with the unimaginable. While I entirely understand the feelings of guilt, I’m glad you ate.

I’m proud of you for helping and and proud that I was able to help in the small way I did. 25 years later, thank you again.