MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, Frank Frangella still carries the memories of what he witnessed at Ground Zero. The Martin County School District's Director of Safety & Security was a New York City Police Department officer when terrorists struck the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
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"It's always there and there are always little things that remind you of what happened," Frangella said from his office, surrounded by photos, statues and a book of memories honoring those lost in the attacks.
From NYPD Officer to Ground Zero Responder
Frangella was asleep after working the midnight shift when his wife woke him with news that would change his life forever.
"I was actually asleep when the first plane hit and my wife woke me up and she goes – a plane just hit the World Trade Center," Frangella recalled. "There was a big hole in that building and I knew right away what that was, so I just started dressing."
The weather that morning remains etched in his memory. "The one thing I remember from that day, soon as I walked out of the house – it was the most beautiful day in the world. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and I'm thinking to myself driving to where I was going – how can this happen on such a beautiful day."
The Reality at Ground Zero
Initially assigned to help intake victims at a Staten Island triage area, Frangella waited for hours as no injured survivors arrived. "No one. No injured. Nothing at all," he said. "It was like what's happening, you know. We're not getting any information."
With communication systems failing, Frangella and fellow officers decided to take a boat directly to Ground Zero. What they found defied comprehension.
"By that time, both buildings were down. And I mean - it looked like a war zone," he said. "It was literally a pile, and it was huge."
The scale of destruction was unlike anything Frangella had ever seen. "You figure two of the largest buildings in Manhattan, you didn't see a desk. A phone. A wire. Nothing that resembled an office building," he said. "Everything was pulverized."
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Remembering 9/11
From Rescue to Recovery
What began as a rescue mission quickly became a recovery operation, according to Frangella. "Everybody that was down there was doing it because they wanted to save lives, and then we found out pretty quickly on that there was no lives to save, and it was a recovery mission more than anything else."
Despite their efforts, Frangella's team did not find any survivors.
The Weight of Memory
The emotional toll of those days followed Frangella home to his family. "A few weeks later, I remember sitting home and it all hit. I just started crying and I don't even know why I was crying," he said.
The dust-covered uniforms from Ground Zero created an unexpected memorial in the Frangella household. "We had a washing machine in the basement that she was washing all my clothing with and how many souls were in that wash. So, it was almost like a shrine in my house. We never used it again after 9/11 because it was like – it just felt wrong to use it."
A Different Kind of Service
Today, Frangella applies his experience from that tragic day to his role protecting Martin County's school children. He often shares his story with students, creating powerful moments of connection.
"This little girl about this big walks over to me and she says -- can I hug you? When that little girl came over, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I mean everybody started crying and she just said… thank you. It was the most amazing thing in the world," Frangella said.
Despite his role in the response efforts, Frangella has never visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. "I was there when it happened. I don't need to relive it again," he said.
Why This Matters Now
As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, first responders like Frangella continue processing their experiences while serving their communities in new ways. His transition from protecting New York City to safeguarding Martin County schools demonstrates how the impact of that day continues to shape public service careers across the country.
Twenty-five years later, Frangella honors not just his own experience, but that of every person who responded that day. "There are thousands upon thousands of stories. This is just mine," he said. "Everybody says that time heals all, and I know for me and everybody who was down there -- we're still waiting."
To hear more stories be sure to watch Echoes of September: A 9/11 Special on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. on WPTV
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
