Rescue and Resiliency: Surviving the Collapse of the Twin Towers

On September 11, 2001, amid the devastation following the collapse of the Twin Towers, eighteen people were rescued alive from the debris pile. One of them, Port Authority Police Officer Will Jimeno, was trapped with his partner on the concourse level of the World Trade Center. They were rescued over 13 hours later through the efforts of first responders, including NYPD Emergency Services Unit Detectives Paddy McGee Sr. and Scott Strauss. In conversation with Museum President & CEO Beth Hillman, these first responders will share their intertwined stories of rescue and resilience, reflecting on how that day transformed their lives, their careers, and their enduring sense of service today.