Where exactly were you 14 years ago when you learned of the events of 9-11 ?

[phylny]

92. I was working at a school in Sterling, VA, right near Dulles Airport.

I went into the principal's office and saw the second plane hit and then the buildings come down.

It was a crazy day. We were put on lockdown immediately. The police came to check on us routinely. There were rumors that the FAA building in Leesburg was hit as well. Being in Northern Virginia, the Pentagon employed many of our students' parents. Parents were coming to get their kids in droves. We didn't tell the children what was going on (elementary school) but in the area high and middle schools, the kids were told, were also on lockdown, and were watching on classroom televisions.

I used the school phone to call my brother, sister-in-law, and father. Couldn't get through to Manhattan. Finally got through to my sister-in-law in Westchester County who told me through tears that my brother, who works in lower Manhattan, was fine. He had a scheduled meeting at 1 World Trade, but missed it due to a disciplinary action against an employee. All my brother's employees were able to evacuate once the first plane hit and were safe.

When I got home and my kids came off their buses, they asked, "Why didn't you come get us?" I told them I was taking care of other people's children just like other people were taking care of mine.

We lived right on the flight path of Dulles, so it was odd that the air was silent in the following days. I remember feeling vulnerable and paranoid when I would hear a fighter jet overhead - I was honestly scared and thought and said that life would "never be the same." I was actually wrong, but didn't know at the time.

When we went back to school, many of our Muslim students didn't come to school because their parents were worried about recriminations. Our principal (wonderful Jewish woman from NY) called each students' parents and told them their children would be in a safe and welcoming place in school.

I was fortunate, originally being from New York, that no one I personally knew was hurt or killed. I know of many families who continue to grieve.