As black smoke billowed from the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Deirdre Kamber Todd watched in disbelief from her home 20 miles away. Just days earlier, she had been focused on plans for her upcoming wedding. In an instant, everything changed.

Todd, who worked as a business and civil rights lawyer with an office on the 52nd floor of Tower One, was not at the World Trade Center when terrorists attacked New York City. Instead, she found herself witnessing one of the nation’s darkest days unfold from a distance.

“From my home 20 miles away I could see dark smoke gathering around the North Tower as I heard the report that a small plane had hit it,” Todd recalled. “I ran back inside to the TV coverage. That was at 8:46 a.m.”

She then drove to a nearby office, where a colleague delivered the news that a second plane had struck the South Tower.

“In that instant we knew we were under attack,” Todd said. “Our lives changed permanently.”

The attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, left an indelible mark on Todd and millions of Americans. In the days and weeks that followed, she said, communities struggled to comprehend the tragedy while trying to move forward.

“In the weeks that followed, cell service returned and we tried to find a new normal,” Todd said. “For every story with a happy ending, dozens more horrifying.”

Following the attacks, Todd eventually returned to Pennsylvania. A native of Selinsgrove, she has lived in Schnecksville for the past 20 years with her husband and children. Today, Todd works as a forensic examiner specializing in document and handwriting fraud. But she has also dedicated much of the last quarter-century to preserving the memory of Sept. 11 through educational programs, survivor testimonies and historical collections.

As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Todd will share her experiences during a special presentation Friday at Venue 22, 661 Main St., Slatington.

The event, titled “The 25th Anniversary of the World Trade Center,” will feature a memorabilia retrospective spanning from 1939 to the present day and is intended to honor those affected by the attacks while supporting local first responders.

Funds raised during the program will benefit first responders from District 183. Admission is free, although organizers are requesting a $20 donation. Light refreshments will be available.

Todd said her goal remains ensuring that future generations understand the events of Sept. 11 and the lasting impact they continue to have 25 years later.

The presentation is open to the public.