To the Heros of 9-11

Every September 11th is a gut check to me. For one it feels like it just took place yesterday when in fact it was 13 years ago. Even though those 13 years have flown by, it remains a strong call for patriotism in my life even more than on Independence day. I am sure that the memories of all those who lived through that day are still fresh. You probably know where you were and what you were doing when you first heard that the World Trade Centers were attacked. As a 13 year old, my first question was what are the World Trade Centers (sheltered I know)? I had never been to NYC and this made the attack seem much farther away than it really was. I remember for days following the attacks as our nation was forged together in the crucible devastation, several stories of the heroism of that day emerged. Of men and women who forgot themselves in a moment of panic and danger for a cause that was much greater than them. There are countless accounts of fireman running into the flames, men and women courageously sacrificing their lives for their coworkers or even people that they didn't know. I have often thought what separates the people with this "hero gene" that when panic and imminent danger is present they think of others rather than themselves. I have come to the conclusion that it is not their last choice of valor that defined their heroic character but in a lifetime of choosing love, altruistic sacrifice, selflessness and charity. Their final moments of sacrifice were only a manifestation of their characters of love, bravery and selflessness that had taken their entire lives to build. Todd Beamer was one of these men.

Todd Beamer was on United Flight 93, you will remember that this is the flight that was diverted by passengers like Todd, from its intended target, the White House. Todd was a normal guy, a kid from the suburbs of Chicago, he played baseball through high school and college and was an avid Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Bears fan. He was the father of two sons. With his wife, he taught Sunday school at Princeton Alliance Church and was involved in youth ministries. None of this seems out of the ordinary, nor does it appear like the makings of a hero but there was a heroic strength of character that had been built in Todd throughout his life that was evidenced on that fateful day.

On September 11th, 2001, United Flight 93 took off at 8:42 am from Newark for San Fransisco. This seemed like an unlikely place for heroism but 6 minutes after takeoff American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North World Trade Tower, 15 minutes later, at 9:03 am, United Flight 175 exploded into the South Tower. Moments after that everything changed, as Todd and his fellow passengers were driven into the back of the plane by terrorists, who had knives and a bomb. With both pilots and one passenger dead, the surviving frantically began making calls to family and loved ones to say their final good byes. Todd used a credit card phone in the back of the plane in an attempt to call his wife but was routed to a customer service representative, Lisa Jefferson. Beamer explained the situation to Jefferson and was informed about the attacks to the Trade Centers. Lisa was kept on the line as Todd and several other passengers plotted to take a stand against the terrorists and prevent more damage to an already wounded country. Before the counterattack began Todd told Johnson "If I don't make it, please call my family and let them know how much I love them." and then his final words were "Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll."

United Flight 93 Crash Site

The rest of the story is immortalized in 9-11 lore as the passengers fought their way into the cockpit and forced the plane down to a fiery death, safely in an empty field outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This brave little band of strangers were the first of many to stand up to terrorism in our generation, independent of the cost to themselves and win. They paid this price for their country, for you and me, in the same way that hundreds of thousands of soldiers have before.

We may not be asked to put our lives on the line for freedoms sake but we can honor our country by doing those things that those who gave so much cannot now do: loving and cherishing our families, giving to those that are less fortunate, supporting our country and maintaining the cause of peace and freedom. In our lives there will be opportunities to be a hero. It may be less visible and instantaneous than Todd and the passengers of Flight 93 but these opportunities will come. Winston Churchill said “To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.” 

May we all recommit ourselves to the cause of patriotism and more fully appreciate the freedom that has been paid for with so many precious lives. May we live our lives in a way that we may through consistent acts of love and selflessness develop the "hero gene," that when our chance to do that very special, unique thing comes about our true character may manifest and we can respond as Todd did, "Lets roll!"

Credit: Wikipedia for details about Todd Beamer