The September 11, 2001, attacks on America were a nightmare most of us all lived. Dave Bast walked in a dreamlike state through it when he joined first responders at what they called "the pile" in lower Manhattan at sunrise on September 12, 2001.

"It's something you manage," Bast said in reflecting on the memories he has of his service there. "With the anniversary coming up, there's a lot more conversation about it. There are a lot more triggers."

Best, then a New York State Police SWAT team member, would spend nearly four months at Ground Zero. He stilll sees himself rapelling down old fire escapes, looking for human remains, and evidence.

"I've always chosen faith over fear. And my faith has provided for me a way to handle it, a way to handle the triggers," Bast said.

After Ground Zero, Bast would serve in Afghanistan in the American response to the terror attacks. He is also among the thousands undergoing regular health checks with those monitoring 9/11 first responders. Bast says so far, so good.

"That's one of the reasons you stay in [the program], to catch it early. Because we've lost a lot of rescue workers and people that were part of Ground Zero," he said.

Now in sales at a local landscaping stone company, Bast marked this 9/11 in Ireland with family. He visited a garden in County Cork, where a woman planted a tree for each of the 343 firefighters who died in the attack. Bast honored them by leaving his state police badge there.

"I try to find the positive out of the negative. It was an honor as a public service person. Both men and women, we sign up to run toward danger, not run away with it," said Bast. "To actually be in the pile and feel like you were making a difference was really important."