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Twenty years after the devastating September 11 attacks shook the world, survivors and witnesses still carry emotional scars. CGTN Stringer recently spoke with two individuals who experienced the tragedy firsthand: William Rodriguez, a World Trade Center janitor whose keys saved lives, and Terry Horniacek, who coordinated emergency response for United Flight 93.
Rodriguez described the surreal chaos of the morning—how his master key opened blocked exits, turning him into an unexpected hero. \"The dust hasn’t settled in our hearts,\" he shared, reflecting on the lingering grief of losing colleagues.
Horniacek recalled the split-second decisions made as Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania, calling it \"a day when ordinary people became legends.\" Their stories reveal how trauma intertwines with resilience—a theme echoing through memorials nationwide this week.
While America honors the nearly 3,000 lives lost, these interviews remind us that history isn’t just about dates—it’s about people, courage, and the slow path toward healing.
\"The dust hasn’t settled in our hearts,\" he shared, reflecting on the lingering grief of losing colleagues.
