Syracuse federal agent recalls Sept. 11 investigation in NY: Ground Zero through her eyes

Mary Kate Anton is a Special Agent, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), in Syracuse, N.Y. She had recently graduated from training when planes hit the twin towers at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. She was deployed to Ground Zero and immediately began searching debris for human remains, airplane parts and evidence to identify the terrorists. “We pulled out countless family photos, teddy bears from the daycare center, clothing and cell phones that we gently tried not to let distract us,” she said. “There was no way we could have mentally or physically prepared for this work.” Twenty years after 9/11, she’s sharing her experiences from a silent New York City seeing empty shoes and receiving acts of kindness from people she never met.