have taken on enhanced meaning to many Americans since September 11, 2001. Some come seeking solace and refuge, while others come seeking a deeper connection with their national heritage. Now, perhaps more than ever, our national parks are a source of strength and a symbol of the American spirit.

National Park Service employees experienced the tragic events of September 11th from a unique vantage point. Their firsthand accounts are documented here as a testament to those events. This online exhibit records not only the strategic response of the National Park Service to this crisis, but the deeper impact on the people involved.

"The message of September 11 is not only of loss. September 11 speaks of courage, determination and perseverance."
- Fran P. Mainella, Director, National Park Service