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Bush weeps for hero
On Line Sun ^ | Mon, Oct 1, 2001 | From NICK PARKER

Posted on 09/30/2001 10:20:14 PM PDT by Jewels1091

THE wife of suicide jet hero Todd Beamer told last night how President Bush wept as he comforted her with a hug. Lisa Beamer, whose husband died leading a gallant passenger fightback, had a poignant White House meeting with Mr Bush and his wife Laura last week. The president’s emotion overflowed as he paid tribute to Todd and the others who gave their lives to foil a hijackers’ attack on Washington. Pregnant mum-of-two Lisa, 32, said: “We shook hands at first. But then he hugged me and his wife did too. “His eyes filled up with tears a couple of times during the meeting — and they weren’t crocodile tears. “I know the President feels our pain. There was no hint of authority in his voice. He was just a man who cares. “It wasn’t like to talking to the world’s most powerful man, it was like talking to a friend or a neighbour.” Poignant ... widow Lisa meets President Bush But the president’s gentle words were followed by a steely pledge — to hunt down the terror bosses responsible for about 6,000 deaths. Blonde Lisa said: “The president just wanted to say thank you. “He thanked us for Todd’s actions and for our courage since it happened. “Mr Bush said it had given great encouragement to the nation. “He told me Todd and the other guys who fought back saved many more lives on the ground.” Computer executive Todd, 32, was held at knifepoint when fanatical hijackers took control of United Airlines flight 93 shortly after it took off from Newark bound for San Francisco. The maniacs killed a passenger and injured both pilots — but 6ft tall fitness fan Todd gathered a beefy gang of passengers to hit back. Their struggle ended with the plane crashing into open land in Pennsylvania, killing all on board. But they prevented it reaching its target, believed to have been the White House or Capitol building. The story of the mid-air battle unfolded after sales executive Todd called a mobile phone operator and asked her to pass on his love to his family. His now famous last words, heard over the open mobile line, were: “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.” Brave Lisa smiled as she told how Todd would say “Let’s roll” as he gathered sons David, three, and Drew, one, for family outings. Lisa, from leafy Cranbury, New Jersey, then recalled: "September 11 started out as an ordinary day. Todd had a meeting in San Francisco and was getting the 8am flight. “He got dressed quietly to avoid waking me or the kids. "It was usually his habit to give me a little kiss on the forehead if he left when I was asleep and I’m sure that’s how he would have said goodbye.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: toddbeamer
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There are several pages to this article, I only posted the first one. I love GWB!! I thank The Lord up above every day that GWB is in office and not gore!
1 posted on 09/30/2001 10:20:14 PM PDT by Jewels1091
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To: Jewels1091
Thanks for this, I am tearing up.
2 posted on 09/30/2001 10:23:57 PM PDT by pubmom
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To: Jewels1091
Heartbreaking.
3 posted on 09/30/2001 10:30:09 PM PDT by dalebert
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To: Jewels1091
Worth posting the entire article...

 
Proudly facing future ... Lisa
with sons David and Drew
Picture: MARC GIDDINGS
From NICK PARKER
Chief Foreign Correspondent
in New York

THE wife of suicide jet hero Todd Beamer told last night how President Bush wept as he comforted her with a hug.

Lisa Beamer, whose husband died leading a gallant passenger fightback, had a poignant White House meeting with Mr Bush and his wife Laura last week.

The president’s emotion overflowed as he paid tribute to Todd and the others who gave their lives to foil a hijackers’ attack on Washington.

Pregnant mum-of-two Lisa, 32, said: “We shook hands at first. But then he hugged me and his wife did too.

“His eyes filled up with tears a couple of times during the meeting — and they weren’t crocodile tears.

“I know the President feels our pain. There was no hint of authority in his voice. He was just a man who cares.

“It wasn’t like to talking to the world’s most powerful man, it was like talking to a friend or a neighbour.”


Poignant ... widow Lisa meets President Bush

But the president’s gentle words were followed by a steely pledge — to hunt down the terror bosses responsible for about 6,000 deaths.

Blonde Lisa said: “The president just wanted to say thank you.

“He thanked us for Todd’s actions and for our courage since it happened.

“Mr Bush said it had given great encouragement to the nation.

“He told me Todd and the other guys who fought back saved many more lives on the ground.”

Computer executive Todd, 32, was held at knifepoint when fanatical hijackers took control of United Airlines flight 93 shortly after it took off from Newark bound for San Francisco.

The maniacs killed a passenger and injured both pilots — but 6ft tall fitness fan Todd gathered a beefy gang of passengers to hit back.

Their struggle ended with the plane crashing into open land in Pennsylvania, killing all on board.

But they prevented it reaching its target, believed to have been the White House or Capitol building.

The story of the mid-air battle unfolded after sales executive Todd called a mobile phone operator and asked her to pass on his love to his family. His now famous last words, heard over the open mobile line, were: “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.”

Brave Lisa smiled as she told how Todd would say “Let’s roll” as he gathered sons David, three, and Drew, one, for family outings.

Lisa, from leafy Cranbury, New Jersey, then recalled: "September 11 started out as an ordinary day. Todd had a meeting in San Francisco and was getting the 8am flight.

“He got dressed quietly to avoid waking me or the kids.

"It was usually his habit to give me a little kiss on the forehead if he left when I was asleep and I’m sure that’s how he would have said goodbye.

Family ... Lisa, Todd, David and Drew
"I was busy with the kids and folding some laundry when the phone rang at about 9am.

"It was my friend Elaine, who told me something terrible was happening at the World Trade Center.

"I switched on the TV just after the second plane hit and stood there in total horror — knowing that Todd was in the air at that time.

"At first I convinced myself that the chances of him being involved must be tiny. I tried not to worry or panic.

"But then news broke of the Pentagon attack and I began hearing about a United Airlines flight out of Newark.

"Todd always flew United Airlines on that route. Slowly the fear started to build up.

"Then I saw the Pennsylvania crash site on TV and knew instantly that no one could possibly have survived it.

"A few minutes later, they confirmed this was the crash site of the United flight from Newark to San Francisco.

"I knew instantly my husband was dead. I remember standing behind the sofa shouting No! No! No!"

It was four days before Lisa learned Todd made his call from the doomed plane to a mobile phone operator.

He knew he was almost certainly about to die and spared his wife the trauma of hearing his final words. Lisa said: “I think he did the right thing because he knew I was alone with the boys and couldn’t have helped.

“The operator later called and calmly talked me through everything he said during the 15 minutes that they spoke.

“At times it was like hearing Todd himself talking and it gave me an amazing sense of peace.

“She said he passed on his love to me and the boys.

“She knew all our names, ages and lots of other things. And when she said Todd had yelled, ‘Let’s roll’, I said to myself, ‘That’s Todd speaking’.”

Todd asked the operator to say the Lord’s Prayer with him before he led the attack.

Devout Christian Lisa said: “People have asked me, ‘Why Todd?’ But I firmly believe God put him there that day because his talents made him a good leader. He must have been scared but the operator said he sounded incredibly calm and in control.”

Lisa was invited to the US Congress when President Bush gave a historic speech after the attack and he asked her to stand for a tumultuous ovation.

She is now courageously facing up to bringing up her sons alone. Her third child due in January will never know its brave father.

She said: “I take consolation from little things. Like the fact that Todd bathed the boys and put them to bed one last time the night before.

“Most of the time I stay in control for the boys but at other times I cry.

“I’ve had to tell David his father won’t be coming home. He still keeps asking. It’s hard for him to understand.

“But my faith tells me we’ll all be together in Heaven one day.”

  • Inspirational Lisa has launched The Todd Beamer Memorial Fund which will aid victims of the disaster and Todd’s favourite charities. Donations can be made over the internet on www.beamerfoundation.org or to the Todd M Beamer Memorial Foundation at P O Box 32, Cranbury, New Jersey, 08512, USA.

4 posted on 09/30/2001 10:37:11 PM PDT by TexRef
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To: TexRef
Wow this was a tough read.. Very hard !
5 posted on 09/30/2001 10:38:55 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: america-rules
.
6 posted on 09/30/2001 10:39:51 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: america-rules
There was another lady on Larry King tonight that had a story that was close to this one. Her husband was/is a Major in the Army ! They still haven't found his body yet.
7 posted on 09/30/2001 10:41:38 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: Jewels1091
I know the President feels our pain

Oh,God.

O.k.,enough tears,LET'S ROLL!!

8 posted on 09/30/2001 10:42:29 PM PDT by mdittmar
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To: america-rules
The President spent a few minutes with her and told her the best thing she could do was " Take good care of her kids " .
9 posted on 09/30/2001 10:42:39 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: america-rules
She also said the President told her "we will get the people who did this" .
10 posted on 09/30/2001 10:43:30 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: Snow Bunny;SLJP;ClancyJ;LadyX
Ping
11 posted on 09/30/2001 10:47:06 PM PDT by swheats
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To: Miss Marple; Utah Girl; rintense; lawgirl; ohioWfan; DittoJed2; jtill; Josephine; lysander13135
My prayers are with Mrs. Beamer and the rest of the family. May God be with her and with her children!
12 posted on 09/30/2001 10:49:22 PM PDT by kayak
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To: america-rules
God bless this woman and her three kids, President Bush and America...wht a touching story.

Todd's quote of "Lets Roll" is a great inspiration.

13 posted on 09/30/2001 10:49:50 PM PDT by Syncro
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To: Syncro
Actually, I was just thinking, that should be the nameof this military operation, "Let's Roll!"
14 posted on 09/30/2001 10:52:25 PM PDT by Jewels1091
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To: Jewels1091
Bump for Bush!!!!!!!!!!
15 posted on 09/30/2001 10:57:02 PM PDT by Big Tex
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To: Jewels1091
This is the best post I have read. This post captures the essence of patriotism and lights the flame of desire to commit one's self to duty to our great God, country and family. I have spent 11 years in the army. I have been posted to coutries in the middle east that do not know the liberty that we know and now cherish more highly. I hope that our country continues to unite. I hope that are young people will learn to have the courage that Todd had, to choose the right! May our Heavely Father bless our country and all that we stand for in righteousness.
16 posted on 09/30/2001 11:02:00 PM PDT by Liberty_Or_Die
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To: Liberty_Or_Die
Isn't tht the truth?

Check This out...

17 posted on 09/30/2001 11:06:48 PM PDT by Syncro
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To: Syncro
.
18 posted on 09/30/2001 11:10:24 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: Syncro
.
19 posted on 09/30/2001 11:10:48 PM PDT by america-rules
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To: Syncro
.
20 posted on 09/30/2001 11:10:51 PM PDT by america-rules
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