A Day to Remember

There are certain dates that people will always remember where they were when they heard the news. When John F. Kennedy was shot, I was in gym class at Bayonne High School. The teacher made the announcement and asked for a moment of prayer. There were over 100 girls in the class and we were all stunned and a bit frightened. I couldn't wait to go home to see my parents.

Early on September 11, 2001, I was at my desk doing paperwork when my secretary ran in and excitedly told me that something terrible was happening at the World Trade Center. I turned on the T.V. and was again stunned and frightened like so many years before.

But my first concern was the safety of my students and staff. I called the Chief of Police and had officers come to each school. Then I called all the principals to establish clear procedures to follow.

I called my husband who worked at Grand Central Station and said, "Get out of New York!" He managed to get the last subway to New Jersey. I was so relieved that he was safe.

It was a tough day and tougher weeks followed. I think about how I had to separate my personal emotions in order to assure students and staff felt they were in a safe environment and we were meeting their individual needs. The same way teachers and administrators conducted themselves in 1963, 48 years earlier.

Today I'm thinking of all the families who lost loved ones and I'm grateful for those people who risked their lives in order to save others.