LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Every year on Sept. 11, one woman travels thousands of miles just to reflect with Las Vegas first responders.
Patricia McCabe lives in New York, but during the week of Sept. 11 she calls the valley home.
"It was very scary because I couldn't get to my son or my husband."
McCabe remembers Sept. 11, 2001 like it was yesterday.
She worked for the New York Fire Department as an administrative assistant to the chief.
"We were able to see the towers burning and collapsing from where we were on the 6th floor at headquarters... You don't think about it everyday. It's very hard to look at images when your on Facebook and you see images, I can't I just can't."
Patricia chooses to observe the solemn day in Las Vegas each year.
She joined Las Vegas Fire Station 5 for a somber ceremony Wednesday, remembering the victims of the worst terror attack on U.S. soil.
The Las Vegas Fire Department has welcomed her with open arms.
"The first time we did this we didn't realize it was Sept. 11 week and the Las Vegas Fire Department, they told us to join and they made us a part of the remembrance."
Every year that passes, every ceremony, offers a chance to honor those lost. A chance to heal. A chance to come together.
"I have formed some lifelong friendships with those people from today. I know today I will get calls from each and everyone of them, it's a tradition."
And as another Sept. 11 comes and goes, Patricia McCabe has a message to the community.
"Sept. 12 should be like every day because on Sept. 12 the whole world loved each other. That's what it should be like every day."
