MaxBuck
SoCal, Baby!
OK, so I just finished my perusal of this month's (September-October 2007) OS Alumni Magazine, and I got to the last page -- a guest editorial. It's by David Beamer, a name that means nothing to me before reading the article. Not even sure why I read it, because there was nothing in the headline to give me a clue as to what the article is about. Just some reminiscences from a dad about his deceased son.
But then I read a little further, and guess what? It turns out that Todd Beamer died in fairly unusual circumstances; he was on United Flight 93, on September 11, 2001. And Todd Beamer was the one whose voice is heard at the critical moment of action, when passengers took their fate (and that of the free world) in hand -- Todd is the one who spurred the passengers on to their assault on the terrorists onboard, saying, "Let's roll!"
As Todd's father says, Todd and his fellow passengers "had the blessing and the opportunity to fight back." And thanks be to God that they did. As a result of the heroism of these people, the U.S. Capitol was unharmed (that was Al Qaeda's objective for Flight 93).
The remainder of the article contains many references to Todd's shared experiences with his dad, which in aggregate qualify as Grade A tearjerker. Anyone reading this article whose eyes can remain dry is one cynical motherf****r. But there is great hope and joy in the article as well. David Beamer reminds us that November 24, 2001 would have been Todd's 33rd birthday. The game score that day was Buckeyes 26, Wolverines 20. As David says, "A bright spot on a tough day..."
I hope I am never called upon to perform in such a situation; even more, I pray that if I am I can respond just as Todd Beamer did. And that those close to me can exhibit the great wisdom, strength, and love that his dad David has done.
God rest you, Buckeye! We give thanks for what you did, for what your fellow passengers on Flight 93 did, and for what so many brave men and women have done in conflicts to protect our freedoms. And last, we give thanks for your wise and loving dad, who blessed us all with the essay that serves as a fitting epitaph for your life.
But then I read a little further, and guess what? It turns out that Todd Beamer died in fairly unusual circumstances; he was on United Flight 93, on September 11, 2001. And Todd Beamer was the one whose voice is heard at the critical moment of action, when passengers took their fate (and that of the free world) in hand -- Todd is the one who spurred the passengers on to their assault on the terrorists onboard, saying, "Let's roll!"
As Todd's father says, Todd and his fellow passengers "had the blessing and the opportunity to fight back." And thanks be to God that they did. As a result of the heroism of these people, the U.S. Capitol was unharmed (that was Al Qaeda's objective for Flight 93).
The remainder of the article contains many references to Todd's shared experiences with his dad, which in aggregate qualify as Grade A tearjerker. Anyone reading this article whose eyes can remain dry is one cynical motherf****r. But there is great hope and joy in the article as well. David Beamer reminds us that November 24, 2001 would have been Todd's 33rd birthday. The game score that day was Buckeyes 26, Wolverines 20. As David says, "A bright spot on a tough day..."
I hope I am never called upon to perform in such a situation; even more, I pray that if I am I can respond just as Todd Beamer did. And that those close to me can exhibit the great wisdom, strength, and love that his dad David has done.
God rest you, Buckeye! We give thanks for what you did, for what your fellow passengers on Flight 93 did, and for what so many brave men and women have done in conflicts to protect our freedoms. And last, we give thanks for your wise and loving dad, who blessed us all with the essay that serves as a fitting epitaph for your life.
Also, David is his old man. Only two Beamers in the story.
