Auburn, Ala. (EETV)— “One of my dreams is to go to the topmost floor of the Freedom Tower to prove to myself and those terrorists that we are Americans. We will go to the topmost floor one more time and stand and say, ‘Here we are because we are Americans; we learned to soar because the Eagle is our symbol,” Sept. 11 survivor Sunel Merchant said.
On Sept. 11, local restaurant Philly Connection continued its longstanding tradition of offering free meals to first responders and security personnel. This tribute has become a hallmark of community support and remembrance since 2005.
Owner Sunel Merchant, a Sept. 11 survivor himself, began this initiative as a personal way to honor the selfless heroes who risk their lives every day to protect the community.
"It was a beautiful morning," Merchant said.
The skies were clear, an unusual sight for New York in September. “I was standing at my desk on the 49th floor, and I saw a plane that seemed to be at eye level,” Merchant continued.
As it came closer, faster, and lower than usual, he and his colleagues made lighthearted jokes, unaware of the impending catastrophe.
"We thought it would turn away, like in the movies," he said, reflecting on how surreal the moment felt.
The impact shook the floor beneath him. Desks moved, walls swayed, and the realization that something more sinister was happening became evident. Merchant said he struggled to accept what had just occurred.
“In the back of my mind, I knew it was a plane, but my mind wasn’t ready to accept it.”
The atmosphere was oddly calm as hundreds of people began filing down the stairwell.
"There was no chaos; we thought it was a pilot error," Merchant said.
As they descended, the horror became undeniable when they saw a woman, severely burned, being carried down the stairs.
Merchant recalled reaching the 25th floor, where firefighters, exhausted from climbing dozens of flights, passed them on their way up. By the time he reached the ground floor, the realization of the scale of the devastation hit hard.
"There was a big black hole in the building. It was much bigger than we had imagined," Merchant said.
Soon after, the second tower collapsed. Debris fell behind him as he ran, barely escaping with his life.
In the days that followed, the weight of his experience sank in. Merchant recalled sitting in his basement, watching the news, helpless.
His son asked, “Dad, who’s your favorite—Superman, Spiderman, or Captain America?” It was a child’s innocent question that altered his perspective on the attack.
“The real heroes aren’t in the movies,” he said. “They’re the firefighters, the police officers, the men and women in uniform who run toward danger to protect us,” Merchant said.
"We were going down, and they were climbing up. And they did it for people like me, strangers they didn’t even know," he said.
Merchant has spent nearly two decades finding ways to honor those heroes.
“I may not know how to bake cookies, but I know how to make cheesesteaks,” he laughed.
Based on South College Street, Philly Connection, a mobile food truck on Auburn’s campus, served its signature Philly cheesesteaks and other menu favorites at no cost to local police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and security personnel throughout the day on Sept. 11.
Merchant uses this day as an opportunity to give thanks and unite the community in recognition of the sacrifices made by first responders.
The restaurant's gesture has grown into a meaningful event for Auburn's first responders, who have come to look forward to the annual show of appreciation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery exhibited on Sept. 11 and the everyday heroism that often goes unnoticed.
This year marks 23 years since the attacks, but for Sunel Merchant and his wife Sonia, the spirit of unity and gratitude is not just a feeling; it's a call to action, more vital than ever.
As Merchant reflects on his life and journey since that fateful day, he acknowledges his blessings, yet the unwavering courage of those who sacrificed their lives remains with him.
“If they’re not superheroes, I don’t know who is,” Merchant concluded.
