story162.xml

story162.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-03-06

I am a teacher in a Fairfax County high school. We have many students whose parents work at the Pentagon so the day became a shambles very quickly in some parts of the school. The first my students and I heard about the strike was when the principal came over the PA. He told us that there had been terrorist strikes in New York and into the Pentagon. He encouraged us to send any students to student services who so requested. My partner and I decided that we would try to maintain as normal a class as we could, given that some of our students would be coming and going constantly.
The one memory that sticks out in my mind is the number of 17 and 18 year old boys, many of whom we 6'2" and taller, who were crying in fear. They had parents who worked in the Pentagon, grandparents who were flying on that day and family members who were in fire and rescue groups. I do not think I ever want to see that sight again. Young men of that age should not be crying in school in front of their peers.
After school, I remember doing something else rare for me and that is sitting in front of the television non-stop for the rest of that day and all of the next as that cancelled school in Fairfax County on the 12th (MY BIRTHDAY!! - not a good celebration last year).