In the days following the attacks, Tom Coughlin didn't want the focus to be on himself or his son — not with the huge number of people whose kids and husbands and loved ones hadn't made it out of the towers. Still, even then, the no-nonsense coach offered a small window into his heart: "You get someplace and you thank God for your blessings," Tom Coughlin said that week.

Five years later, Tim Coughlin still realizes how lucky he was to escape. One image, however, sticks with him above all others: It was that of a woman, a security worker at the World Trade Center, who was shouting instructions, telling people to get off their cell phones, pay attention and find a safe path out of the building.

"There was general fear in her eyes," Tim Coughlin said. "She knew what was going on. I listened to her and got out as fast as possible. She saved lives, saved a lot of them. I know she didn't make it out. I was very blessed to get out of there. I'd have given anything to see her get out of there, too."

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DADDY'S GIRL: Emily Cook's mother died in a car crash when she was 3. Obviously, when something like that happens to a kid, the importance of family hits home in a way that's hard to explain.

Fast forward to 2001. Emily's dad, Don, lived in Boston, where he was an executive for a financial planning company. As a West Coast representative, Don traveled about three weeks of every month. Meanwhile, Emily's hectic training and competition schedule for the U.S. freestyle skiing team made it hard for father and daughter to connect.

When American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, one of the flight attendants was Kathy Nicosia, a cousin of Emily's mother. Emily had stayed in good touch with her mom's side of the family, even though her mother had passed away long ago.

"My dad really made an effort to do that," Cook said. "Obviously, the impact on our entire family was pretty huge when that happened."

Some people talk about family being important. Far fewer really do something about it.

Asked the biggest impact 9-11 had on her, Emily Cook doesn't waver for even a second.

A few months after the tragedy, Don Cook picked up stakes and moved to Park City, Utah, to be near his girl. His company approved the move, and the two have lived within walking distance of each other ever since.

"It's wonderful. He's my closest family member," Cook said. "After 9-11, he realized how important that was to him."

It worked out great. They eat dinner. They meet for coffee. They hang out. Don did the job from Utah for a few years. He retired not long ago.