By "The city of Mountain View community is deeply saddened the events that have occurred and as a community our thoughts are with those who have been impacted these tragedies."

-Mario Ambra,

Mountain View mayor

“This will forever change our sense of security. Because we are a nation that is so free, we are so vulnerable.”

-Richard Schlosberg

chief executive officer, David & Lucile Packard Foundation

“I’m glad school wasn’t canceled. It was good to be with other people. There’s no one this didn’t affect.”

-Julia Denis

Los Altos High School

“My heart goes out to everybody on that plane. I don’t think people understand how serious this is. They’re still in shock. I’m going to prepare for the worse and hope for the best.”

- A Sunnyvale father who was purchasing nine gas masks at The Preparedness Center in Mountain View.

“My brother was close to the Pentagon in a meeting. He said it was like a quake hit. I didn’t know until 11 a.m. if he was OK. … I kept hitting re-dial. It was sheer luck that I got through to my sister-in-law.”

-Cynthia Rapp

Los Altos

“Our family members are all affected. I couldn’t eat today.”

-Johnny Khamis

president of the Republican Arab-American Congress, Silicon Valley

“We’re not always going to be safe, but that’s a reality of life. We need to learn to come together and make things better. We’re not invincible.”

-Lindsey Stephens

Los Altos High School

“Our kids are in shock. The last thing we need to do is send them home to empty houses to watch TV. They’re better off here.”

-George Perez

LAHS principal