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| Todd Beamer, Flight 93 Passenger |
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| Jeremy Glick, Flight 93 Passenger |
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| Pleasanton resident Tom Burnett, passenger Flight 93 |
Every 9/11 is heart searing.
It is nearly impossible to believe it has been 25 years since we were attacked by al-Qaeda terrorists...so strong are the memories of that horrible day. I was in Boulder Creek with Dave just finishing a vacation when we walked into the checkout office only to see the Twin Towers billowing smoke over NYC on a small television. "We've been attacked! Planes! Twice!" said a shaking woman behind the desk. 25 years ago.
Today, a 9/11 post on Facebook by Meteorologist Dan Henry tugged at my heart. Because it puts a light on lesser discussed Flight 93 which crashed outside Shanksville PA and because one of our own Pleasanton residents was onboard and chose to pay the ultimate sacrifice to spare others, I am sharing Mr. Henry's Facebook post and the heroic story of Flight 93 below in remembrance of 9/11/2001...
REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001….."LET'S ROLL.”
Todd Beamer was an American passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked and crashed as part of the September 11 attacks in 2001. He, along with Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett from Pleasanton CA, Jeremy Glick and several other passengers, attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the hijackers. During the struggle, the Boeing 757 lost control and crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville Pennsylvania killing everyone on board, but preventing the hijackers from reaching their intended target (believed to be the U.S. Capitol or the White House).
According to accounts of cell-phone conversations, Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick formed a plan to retake the plane. They were joined by other passengers, including Lou Nacke, Rich Guadagno, Alan Beaven, Honor Elizabeth Wainio, Linda Gronlund, and William Cashman, along with flight attendants Sandra Bradshaw and CeeCee Lyles, in discussing their options and voting on a course of action, ultimately deciding to storm the cockpit.
Beamer told the GTE Airfone Supervisor, Lisa Jefferson, that the group planned to "jump on" the hijackers and crash the plane before the hijackers could carry out their plan. He recited the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm with Jefferson, prompting others to join in. He asked Jefferson, "If I don't make it, please call my family and let them know how much I love them." After this, Jefferson heard muffled voices and Beamer clearly answering, "Are you ready? Okay. Let's roll." These were the last words from Beamer that Jefferson heard.
These were ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage. They knew they were not going to make it home, but they chose to fight back rather than allow the terrorists to reach another target.
The passengers of Flight 93 made the ultimate sacrifice, and in doing so, they saved more innocent lives. Never Forget.
(Source: Dan Henry, Facebook)
