Emma Thornton’s route covered floors 77 through 110 of Tower 1. It was the first to be struck that day. 10048 and 10047 were the ZIP codes for the World Trade Center buildings. Neither code exists today. On the morning of September 11, the employees of Church Street Station Post Office were busy at work inside the building, across the street from the World Trade Center. Thornton was preparing her mail for delivery. She stepped outside for a break. In this video, Thornton explains what happened that day.

In the days after September 11, Church Street Station Post Office employees were re-located to other postal facilities nearby. Customers came to the post office to collect their mail. It was an opportunity for relief and reunion.