Chicago High School Students Reunited With Families After Return From Paris
(CBS) -- A group of Chicago High School students are back home after their Paris adventure was cut short by the terrorist attacks.
Parents had never been so happy to see their children.
The reunions were private, taking place in a VIP room at O'Hare, but several of the families stopped to share their stories.
After nerve-racking hours following the attack and long days waiting for their return, parents escorted their kids through O'Hare Airport.
"It's been the longest weekend of my life," said parent Kathy Bennett. "This was horrible."
Her daughter Brooke knew something was wrong when school officials told them to call home right away.
"They just put us in a room told us to call our parents and everything was ok ok then after we told our parents we were fine they told us there were bombings and shootings and stuff," Brooke said.
"I looked outside and I saw everybody scattering, I saw some smoke coming up and I thought oh my God, Paris just really got attacked right now," said Jermaine Berry.
His mom Sheri Hurdle said, "I've been holding my breath for the last few days. Now I can finally breathe."
The group from Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences had only been in Paris two days when they turned their focus to getting home.
"They also told us the borders were closed, so at that moment we were kind of really freaked out because we has no Idea how we were supposed to get home," said Melanie Smith.
"When I found out they were right in the heart of the whole occurrence, it was very scary," said her mother, Karen Smith.
The students say they are heartbroken for the French.
