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34FOCUS-SEPTEMBER2011Perry.Butitwouldnx19tbelongbeforeshewouldsethersightsonhernextgrandadventure.Itwas1994afewmonthsshyofher21stbirthdaywhenHeatherdecidedtomovetoNewYork.WithasinglebagofclothesandapairofrollerbladesshehoppedonthebusandheadedtotheBigAppletradinginthesprawlinggreeneryandthesmall-townlifeofPortPerryfortheglitzandglamourofNewYorkCity.Sheknewofonlyoneotherpersonlivingtherex13abriefacquaintancex13butitwasallsheneeded.ThemomentshesteppedoffthebusinNewYorkshesoughtouthisplaceofbusinessandaskedifhecouldsparehiscouchforafewnightsuntilshefoundanotherplacetostay.Funnyenoughthefaithfulcouchbecameherstapleresidenceforthenextfewmonths.x1cIlivedonfriendsx19couchesx1dHeathersaysx1cIjuststartednetworkingandeveryonewaswillingtohelpoutx1dshesaysaddingthatitwasx18theNewYorkwayx19x13everyoneistryingtomakeitandeveryonedoeswhattheycantohelpout.AndHeatherdideverythingshecouldtomakeitbyx13waitressingmanagingarestaurantx13allwhilestillpursuinghermodellingcareerandenjoyingthenewplaceshenowcalledhome.AfterafewyearsinthemodellingworldHeatherdecideditwastimetostepoutofthespotlightandgetbehindthescenes.In1999shegotherx1rstrealNewYorkCityx18high-powerx19jobatMeRoasmalljewellerycompanyatthetimehandlingthecompanyx19spublicrelationsandmarketing.Thecompanygrewfastandwassooncateringtoaheavycelebrityclientele.Heatherwouldspendthenext4yearstheregainingx1rst-handexperi-enceintheworldofbusinessmarketingandPR.Howevernohigh-powerjobcouldhavepreparedherforthedayinwhichx1ceverythingchanged.x1dWeallrememberSeptember11thwasabeautifulsunnymorning.ItwasnothingbutclearblueskiesinNewYork.HeatherwaslivinginBrooklynatthetimeabout6kmfromtheWorldTradeCenterherjobatMeRowasonly10blocksawayfromthesiteanditwasjustanotherdayofgettingreadyforwork.SheandoneofherroommateswereabouttoleavetheirapartmentforthedaywhentheysawonthenewsthataplanehadcrashedintooneoftheWTCtowers.BecauseManhattansitsonahilltheycouldseethetowersandthesmokefromtheirapartmentwindow.Notsurewhattodoorhowseriousthesituationwastheyheadedintowork.x1cPlanesx0yclosetothetowersallthetimex1dshesays.x1cWethoughtitwasprobablyalittlepassengerplane.x1dLeavingtheirapartmenttheywereimmediatelystruckbypaperfallingfromthesky.Theyheadedforthesubwayandafteronlyashortridethetraincametoasuddenstopresultinginmanypeoplefalling.Shelearnedlaterthatasthedriverapproachedtheendofthetunnelhehadwitnessedthesecondplanecrashingintothetowerwhichinstinctuallyforcedhimtoslamonthebrakes.OncethetrainstartedmovingagainHeathernoticedthepanicineveryonex19seyes.Atthispointshewastryingtoremaincalmandcollectedforthosearoundher.Whensheandherroommategottoworktheywereterrix1edandnotsureiftheyshouldheadbackhome.Shecouldseepeoplerunningonthestreetsbelowandtheskywascoveredinathickblacksmoke.Shetriedcallinghermotherbutacablehadbeenhitwhichleftnoradiotelevisionorphonesworkinginherbuilding.Shemanagedtogetafewemailsouttohermombutconversationswerecutshort.September112001startedasaregularworkingdayformeasDurhamRegionx19sDeputyChiefofPolice.AfterourmorningmeetingadirectorenteredmyofficetoreportanaircrafthadjustflownintotheWorldTradeCenter.Ijoinedhimafewminuteslater.Asthewallscreendisplayedthenewscastofthecrasheventitwasbecomingclearthiscrashwasnotaccidentalthenthesecondplanestruckthetwintower.Reportsindicatedotheraircraftwerealsooffcourseandassumedtobeunderterroristcontrol.Themorn-ingfilledwithemergencyrespondersattendingtothebuildingswhilePoliceIntelligenceUnitswereactivatedtoliaiseandcoordinatetheinvestigativearmoftheseattacks.TheNorthAmericanskieswereclosedforbusinessandpotentialDurhamtargetswerenotifiedandmonitoredforsuspiciousactivities.Asthebuildingscollapsedweknewthevictimcountwouldbeextensive.Thedaywasfilledwithshockdisbeliefangerandsorrowasthereportedbodycountofofficework-ersandemergencyrespondersgrewinnumbers.Staffandcitizenswereoverwhelmedbytheviciousnessoftheattack.Theyearsthathavefollowedhaschangedthefaceofpolicingasitaddressesthegrowingfearandlikeli-hoodofterroristattacksonourcon-tinentandaroundtheworld.Itx19sadaythatIwillneverforget.CHUCKMERCIERREMEMBERSContinuedfrompage5x1cPlanesx0yclosetothetowersallthetimex13wethoughtitwasprobablyalittlepassengerplane.x1d...HeatherKnopp