It's really hard to imagine that 15 years have gone by. I could still remember the chaos, terror and confusion of that day. I could still smell the rancid air if I think about it. We all know where we were on 9/11 and if you were from NY, you saw the carnage right before your eyes.

I was teaching that day. I remember my school being put on lock down and for some reason I had the only cell phone that would work. My cell phone carrier was not out of the trade center like most were. Some of my students were crying because their parents worked in the towers. I didn't know at that moment 260 people from my community wouldn't be coming home. Living only eight miles from the city, it was normal to have a career in Manhattan.

When they finally realized there weren't terrorists driving through the streets, they released us from school. The journalist in me rushed down to the water's edge and I started taking photos. Photos of a skyline that would never be the same. All I saw was smoke in the air where two towers once stood. I was utterly sick and frightened.

I went into the city with a few friends and started filming. 15 years later, I still haven't watched my footage. I remember the walls of the missing, pockets of people singing New York themed songs like Frank Sinatra's classic New York, New York. It was crazy. Utter devastation.

When we worked our way down to Ground Zero, I remember seeing firemen crying. A vision I could never get out of my mind. At that moment we didn't know how many died, but they did. The smell of burning metal lasted for months.

I had airline tickets for that Friday, Newark to San Francisco, a flight path I knew all to well because I was dating someone on and off in the bay area. I was sick to my stomach when I found out that one of the planes that crashed was Newark to San Francisco. What if the terrorists chose that Friday? From that very moment I had an induced fear of flying.

We found out as the days went on the names of those who perished.

I didn't know Jackie would lose her husband.

I didn't know I wouldn't see Jeff again.

I didn't know my students would lose their parents.

I didn't know Rob on my softball team was gone.

I didn't know Chris would lose his brother or Christina would lose her uncle.

I didn't know I would attend ten plus funerals and have nightmares for years to come. 260 innocent souls taken from our community. It was a very somber and scary time. Everywhere you looked, The American flag would be blowing in the wind. The flag took on a new meaning that day. The flag symbolized unity, that we can't fall and won't be taken down. Seeing the flag everywhere meant we stood together as a city and as a nation. During the following weeks I witnessed so many people come together to cheer on the human race.

Mayor Giuliani said to go to the city and spend money. "Go out to eat, the city needs your help." After attending benefit after benefit, we listened to his plea. I went to Asia De Cuba, a trendy hot spot on Madison Avenue. Who knew I would meet my husband that night. Who knew my future of creating four children was standing right in front of me.

I went on to marrying Bobby and becoming a military wife. 9/11 never ended for me because he had to serve in the war in Operation Enduring Freedom. I was in for the long hall with the effects of 9/11. I had to brave up and deal with the fact that my husband was going head on with those responsible for that solemn day.

Bobby went into Afghanistan with the marines as a Navy Dentist. I never thought he was going to be put in harm's way, but he was. He acted like a medic when needed and went into the villages with the marines facing this horror head on. I remember on one of his missions he recovered weapons and an 9/11 American flag.

I have come to accept that 9/11 will never leave us. It's hard to believe that 15 years have gone by. When you live through something like this and when your husband fights in the war, it's a day that never ends. I am happy to say the nightmares have stopped, and my fear has lessened. Like my fellow New Yorkers, I continue on with my faith, praying and moving forward with a little more strength and a little more resilience. 9/11 will always be etched in my chapters, but I won't let it define who I am. One thing for certain is I'll Never Forget!

Where were you that day? Comment below...