history the attacks of september 11th, 2001 ahead of this solemn remembrance, nbc new york's marc santia spoke to the heroic members of the nypd's emergency service unit as they reflect on what they experienced on that terrible day for new york and america. >> it definitely just seems like yesterday, though. >> reporter: stepping into the past, each footstep etched into memory, it has been 22 years but in many ways, time has stood still. >> when we were on the pile after that first night, he we had fire under our feet, and you could hear the f-16s flying overhead so it was a little surreal to be in new york city and hear fighter jets flying above. >> reporter: detectives raymond and robert sajak are part of the nypd's renounced emergency service unit, dealing with some of the biggest jobs the city has ever seen. they were assigned to truck 7 on 9/11. >> we're not used to responding to planes slamming into buildings with numerous people trapped. so it was -- i'm not going to lie. it was scary we didn't think we would probably come home. >> reporter: in fact, several members of esu never c