Although they prefer not to talk about it or dwell upon it, the three people with Washington connections who discussed their being in New York during the 9/11 attacks for Sunday’s front page provided a valuable service to Daily News readers.

The recollections of Phedora Johnson, Vail Stewart Rumley and Mo Krochmal made it clear that horrific day continues to affect people to their very cores. We appreciate their willingness to recall that day.

“Oh, absolutely,” Rumley said when asked if the events of 9/11 remain vivid in her mind. “Nothing’s changed. It could have happened yesterday.”

“I try not to really think to hard about that day,” Rumley said. “I rarely ever talk about it.”

“I remember and I always will. I cannot forget and I’m a different person because of those events. I hope I am a better one toward my fellow human beings,” Krochmal wrote in an email.

“When 9/11 happened, the entire spirit, the entire core of New York City, of course, was shaken. The entire city became a graveyard,” Johnson said. “What I mean by that specifically is you saw pictures of missing people, many of whom were later discovered to have been dead, pictures everywhere — in subway stations, on poles, in restaurants, everywhere. People looking for their loved ones.”

As painful as their memories may be, their words help us to continue to heal.