“I came from Poland in 1980. On 9/11, I was cleaning windows in the Twin Towers on the 68th floor. When the plane hit, I grabbed my squeegee and started cutting through walls to escape. We made a hole. We ran. The antenna was bending. Over 150 people I knew didn’t make it. I share this so the next generation knows: never quit.” — Survivor of the World Trade Center attacks, September 11, 2001. | Pentagon Memorial Fund, Inc.

Tonight: #911OneDayinAmerica shares first-hand accounts from first responders and survivors of the September 11 attacks. | National Geographic TV

After the September 11 attacks, NYPD detective Luis Alvarez spent weeks at Ground Zero searching for survivors through the toxic rubble. Years later, he developed colorectal cancer caused by the dust exposure. Before his death in 2019, Alvarez became one of the leading voices for 9/11 first responders, fighting for the Victim Compensation Fund. His story stands as a reminder that the tragedy of 9/11 didn’t end when the towers fell. 🔴 Follow @thescaryfact for more real stories of heroism and sac