We lived near Dulles Airport on 9/11. My school was actually soundproofed because we were right
under the flight path.
Our three daughters were in school - elementary, middle, and high school - and I worked at a different elementary school as a speech therapist. I watched the plane go into the second tower on a small TV in our principal's office. I worried about my brother who had a meeting in the second basement of one of the towers. He was fine - missed the meeting because he had to discipline an employee. All his other employees got out safely.
At my school, since I didn't have a classroom to manage, I manned the door (which was locked) and let parents in. One by one, parents came to get their kids. We were instructed to say nothing to the students who remained. By the time I got home, my children were there waiting for me, and our middle one asked, "All the other parents came for their kids - why didn't you come for us?"
I answered, "Because just like I was taking care of other people's children, I knew your teachers were taking care of you."
My heart breaks for all the wonderful school teachers who take care of other people's children.