Twenty-five years have passed since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, an event that reshaped global politics and the lives of millions. On that day, two hijacked commercial airplanes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in southern Manhattan, resulting in 2,753 deaths and leaving a deep scar on the nation's collective memory. Today, nearly a third of New York City’s population was not even born when the attacks occurred. For many younger New Yorkers, the events of 9/11 are now history, often learned about through books, documentaries, or school lessons rather than personal experience. Christina Stanton, a resident of New York’s Financial District, was one of the many people who lived through the attacks. Now, she shares her story with visitors and the younger generation at Ground Zero, the site where the twin towers once stood. Today, the area is marked by two large basins, each containing the names of the victims. Stanton was evacuated by boat to New Jersey after witnessing the planes hit the towers. She describes the dust, chaos, and emotional toll of that day and the weeks that followed. While she acknowledges that sharing her experience might be a form of therapy, she views it more as a mission—to ensure that people understand the true impact of what happened. For young visitors like Henri, who was born in 2003 and traveled from Texas with his parents, hearing firsthand accounts adds depth to what he learns in school. Though he is taught about the attacks, he finds that people like Stanton bring a personal perspective that highlights stories often overlooked. "There are many unknown stories," he said, "and she knows how to highlight them." Ty Balard, a man in his fifties from North Carolina, traveled to Ground Zero after visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum. He followed the events through the media at the time but had been far from the attacks. "Like many, I was far away, even though I remember that day very well," he said. He emphasized that the physical distance protected him and others, but it is still precious to hear from those who were there. Their testimonies, he said, help bridge the gap between memory and understanding for those who weren’t present.