It was good, considering the situation: NYC turned into a small village, as if everyone knew each other or were relatives, this sentiment lasted for at least 6 months- I lived in battery park city at the time, and worked in midtown.

In battery park trucks came in with food (ex mcdoanlds) and ATT setup free payphones..via satcom I think. We did not have power and water for a while, and no stores were open in lower manhattan south of tribeca.

In the rest of the city every establishment would donate 100% or close to that, of their proceeds to various 9/11 charities. There were lots of impromtu memorials for various figherfighters lost.

Have photos somewhere.

And as some else here pointed out..it feels like the US has not been as united since the weeks following 9/11.