While Mercer County funeral directors Robert L. Snyder and Stephen A. Williams said they are accustomed to dealing with death, they admitted that nothing prepared them for their Ground Zero experience.

Both funeral directors volunteered two weeks of their time and expertise last month to a massive effort in New York City to identify victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack and those who died about a month later in the crash of American Airlines Flight 587.

The effort to recover, identify and repatriate remains to victims' families could continue for another nine months to a year, according to Snyder.

Snyder and Williams assisted the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City.

Snyder and Williams were deployed by the National Funeral Directors Association.

Williams said more than 1,500 funeral directors volunteered with the association immediately after the terrorist attacks. The association indicated that funeral directors who already volunteered their time could be called for a second tour of duty, Snyder said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner set up an around-the-clock disaster response center near Ground Zero shortly after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

That is where Snyder and Williams volunteered almost all of their time.

"I worked the 4 to midnight shift for 14 days straight," said Williams, supervisor of Andrew H. Osborne III Funeral Home in Greenville.

"The most difficult cases that I have experienced in nearly 20 years of funeral service pale in comparison," said Snyder, owner and operator of Robert L. Snyder Funeral Home in Sheakleyville and Fredonia.

But Snyder and Williams said they felt their work -- while emotionally and mentally trying -- was important. Both said they never questioned their decision to volunteer their services, despite the grim surroundings.

"I don't know if I've done anything in my life that's been as important or rewarding," Snyder said.

"I felt it was my duty," Williams added.

Snyder said he visited Ground Zero four times, while Williams said he visited it once.

"I can't begin to describe it. It was overwhelming. Once you go down to Ground Zero and look around, it becomes apparent why we are in Afghanistan," Snyder said.

"The devastation and destruction is far greater than that which is seen on television," Snyder added.

Snyder said he used his volunteer identification to get a close look at the devastation. Williams said he did not get as close, because he chose not to use his identification and visited the area simply as "a tourist."

"I saw enough devastation where I was working," Williams said.